Archbishop Charles Scicluna will leave Malta on Thursday on a mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis.
He will visit New York and Chile for a number of private meetings.
Mgr Scicluna will return to Malta on February 25.
The Curia said the Archbishop was not in a position to comment or answer questions related to this mission.
In Archbishop Scicluna's absence, Vicar General Joe Galea Curmi will assume
the leadership of the Archdiocese of Malta.