Mikiel Gonzi

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Michael Gonzi
Senior posting
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
See	Malta
Title	Archbishop of Malta, Papal Count
Period in office	1943 — 1976
Consecration	17 December 1943
Predecessor	Mauro Caruana
Successor	Joseph Mercieca
Religious career
Priestly ordination	1908
Previous bishoprics	Bishop of Gozo, Coadjator Bishop of Malta, Bishop of Malta, Titular Bishop of Lyrbe
Previous post	Bishop
Personal
Date of birth	13 May 1885(1885-05-13)
Place of birth	Vittoriosa, Birgu, Malta

Sir Michael Gonzi, (Maltese Mikiel Gonzi) KBE, DD (16 November 1885 - 22 January 1984) was the 15th and Last Bishop of Malta and the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malta. His grand-nephews include Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta and his brother Michael Gonzi, also a Member of Parliament.

1 Background
2 Controversies
3 Honours and Title
4 References
5 Sources
6 See also

[edit] Background

He was born in Vittoriosa, Birgu, Malta, and ordained to the priesthood in 1908. In 1924 he was ordained as the 5th Bishop of Gozo. He remained as Bishop of Gozo till 1943 when Bishop Joseph Pace was ordained. On 14 October 1943 he became coadjutor bishop of Malta and Titular Bishop of Lyrbe.

Three months after, that Bishop Caruana died, and on 17 December Michael Gonzi became Bishop of Malta. The Diocese of Malta, was elevated to an archdiocese of Malta in 1944 and became Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malta.

He was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Mercieca following retirement in 1976.

He died, aged 98, on 22 January 1984.

[edit] Controversies

On Archbishop 17 March 1961 Gonzi, interdicted supporters of the Malta Labour Party, specifically, the Party's Executive Committee, readers, distributors and advertisers in the Party papers and voters and candidates of the Party. Those interdicted could not receive the sacraments and, when they passed away, were buried in unconsecrated ground, in a part of the cemetery popularly called by the prejorative term Il-Miżbla. This was due to the hard-fought Integration campaign of 1958 and Labour's perception that the Church was to blame for its failure which led to some scathing attacks from Labour officials on members of the Church hierarchy. There was also widespread international fear that the Labour Party of Malta was becoming a Communist Party through its developing relationships with the socialist AAPSO.^[1]

Young men seeking employment had to obtain a letter of recommendation from the village priest. Failure to do so meant perpetual unemployment.^{[citation needed]} Thousands emigrated to Australia, Canada and the United States. Among those who were buried on unconsecrated ground was Labour deputy leader and prominent novelist Guze Ellul Mercer^[2].

To stir more ire, Dom Mintoff then began declaring that "Ġesu Kristu hu l-akbar soċjalista" (Jesus Christ is the biggest socialist); Gonzi's supporters retorted "Jew ma' l-isqof jew max-xitan" (Either with the bishop, or with the devil).

[edit] Honours and Title

Gonzi was created a KBE, entitling him to be known as Sir Michael Gonzi, in the 1946 New Year's honours. In 1949, on the occasion of the silver jubliee of his consecration as Bishop, Pope Pius XII made him assistant at the Papal Throne; in the same year he was conferred the degree of LL.D (Honoris Causa) by the University of Malta, and created Baliff Grand Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

In 1949, Gonzi was created a Papal Count for his works on behalf of the Papacy. The title was created by Pope Pius XII. Gonzi was instrumental in helping families without decent dwellings to find good houses and in fact was instrumental in the construction of at least 12 dwellings in Kalkara by the friends of Malta GC. He was also the motor behind the construction of many churches especially the one in Kalkara . The Village of Kalkara was close to Mgr Gonzi's heart as it was here that he was brought up. In 1963, the dictator, Generalissimo Francisco Franco of Spain conferred on Gonzi the title of Grand Cross of the Order of St Raimond de Penafort. He was also appointed Commander of the Holy Sepulchre in 1965.