First Maltese bishop

Abstract

When Emperor Charles V of Aragon, as King of Sicily, ceded Malta as a fief to the Order of St. John in 1530, it was expressly laid down that the jus patronatus over the Bishopric of Malta was to remain with the Emperor and his successors, as kings of Sicily. This meant, inter alia, that the Emperor should select the Bishop of Malta from among three candidates to be nominated for that purpose by the grandmaster, Head of the Order and his council. In practice, the Sovereign Lord of Sicily submitted a candidate to the Holy See, and the Holy See invariably appointed that candidate to the See of Malta. As a rule the grandmaster and his council chose as candidates foreign prelates rather than prelates of Maltese nationality.