Newly-anointed Auxiliary Bishop Charles J. Scicluna promises to provide a sorely-needed breath of fresh air not only to the Archbishop’s Curia but also to the whole diocese.

Every time I have seen him on television I have admired the seriousness with which he takes the Church’s teachings but with an occasional lacing of humour where it can do no harm. However, the one aspect of his personality that has struck me most is his sensible approach to the confidentiality of Confession.

Asked by Peppi Azzopardi on Xarabank what he would do if someone were to confess to him a plan to blow up the Curia, Bishop Scicluna said the first thing he would do would be to give the would-be bomber the “penance” of having to rebuild the Curia (that’s the humorous side). But knowing what he knew, he would order everybody out of the building without letting on as to why.