Bishop Charles Scicluna, Apostolic Administrator of the Church in Malta, has been appointed president of a Vatican College which will consider appeals moved before the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith related to serious offences by priests.

The appointment was made by the Pope.

The College has four cardinals and two bishops as its members.

Mgr Scicluna served for several years as the Vatican's prosecutor in sex abuse cases.

The college was set up by the Pope in November to speed up the Vatican's review of appeals by priests sanctioned for abuse. In recent years, the Vatican has been receiving on average 400-500 accusations a year, significantly increasing the caseload of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Mgr Scicluna is expected to continue to serve in Malta - possibly even as Archbishop - as the Vatican appointment is not full-time.

“This work is compatible with my continued mission with the church in Malta,” he told Times of Malta. “It is compatible with any mission, there is no incompatibility” (listen to recording below)

Even while he was in Malta, Mgr Scicluna remained a member of the congregation, active in its deliberations.