The appointment of Bishop A.M. Buhagiar as Administrator Apostolic of Malta

Abstract

The appointment of Bishops to the See of Malta has always been, at least since Medieval times, an event of great concern to various Sovereign Powers of the Island and the Holy See. It was a source of problematic issues. during the period when Malta was under the Knights of St. John and it turned to be a thorny one under British Rule. There were no such difficulties under the French as no Episcopal vacancy occurred during the time of their occupation. After the Treaty of Paris (1814), when Malta became part of the British Empire, the British considered themselves the lawful heirs - as the actual Sovereign of Malta - of the old right enjoyed by the King of Sicily, to present to the Holy See the candidates to the Maltese Bishopric. This pretended right of presentation soon developed, under British Rule, into a disputed claim of "approval" which eventually equalled to the right of a "Veto" against any Ecclesiastic who was not acceptable to the Crown. One such person was Padre Antonio M. Buhagiar, a Franciscan Capuchin Friar. This specific case, perhaps unique in Maltese Ecclesiastical History, did occur between the years 1884-1888 when the ailing Bishop of Malta, Mgr. Carmelo dei Conti Scicluna, was considered unfit to run the Diocese and the appointment of an Administrator was felt necessary.