Mgr. Michael / Mikiel Gonzi (1885-1984)
Bishop of Gozo (1924-1943), Bishop of Malta (1943-1944) and Archbishop of Malta (1944-1976)
My first meeting with Mgr. Gonzi took place on 25th May 1973 in the Archbishop’s palace, Valletta. Dun Charles Vella was present at the meeting
‘You are from Holland. I had a Dutch friend in Rome, but he died there.
I used to be a professor of Holy Scripture. My successor was Sidon, who translated the Bible into Maltese. Now it is mgr. Sant, a good professor.
I forgot Hebrew: qatal, qatela. It’s such a long time ago. Hebrew was very easy for Maltese to learn.
My time in Gozo: those were the happiest years in my life.
I would like to tell you about my life, but not now as I will leave to-morrow for a holiday in Italy.’
Second meeting 30th June 1973
‘You have been to Mgr. Gerada. What did he tell you’ ? (I did not take down my reply in my notes, but it must have been rather evasive. For those interested cf https://www.irresistiblemalta.com/2026/06/28/emmanuel-gerada/.
‘I made a request for an assistant under my supervision at the Holy See and I named the man. It was granted. He never was a nuncio, perhaps they would have made him one.’
‘You want to know about my career? I studied at the Royal University of Malta. I was Doctor of Theology. Then I studied in Rome two years at the Institute of Canon and Biblical Studies at the expense of the University. In 1915 I was appointed Professor in Holy Scripture and Eastern Languages. In 1923 I was made Canon Theologian of the Cathedral Chapter and in 1924 Bishop of Gozo. During the war I was de facto Archbishop of Malta on the orders of the Holy Father.
During 1962-1965 I was a member of the Second Vatican Council and during the last three Senates I was in Rome.’
‘Strickland was a good Catholic. It finished well. He made a declaration that he was sorry for what had happened and as a Catholic he submitted to the wishes of the Holy See.’
‘I do not want to discuss the conflict with the MLP with you as this man (i.e. Dom Mintoff; AK) is in the Government now. There have been some differences between State and Church, but that’s settled down. We are on good terms with the present Government.’
‘I am Archbishop de facto and Metropolitan of Malta and Gozo. I am awfully busy. They look upon the Archbishop as their spiritual father. With questions of some importance they’ll come to me.’
Ever since I witnessed Mg. Gonzi several times presiding over Church functions. I remember him leading a procession in Valletta. I watched it with my family. For my children it was the first time they saw a bishop, with the exception of Saint Nicholas, popular with catholics and protestants alike. Our two year old son exclaimed: ‘What a little Saint Nicholas!’.
A remarkable occasion was the ordination of 50 new priests on the occasion of Mgr. Gonzi’s 50th anniversary as a bishop. St. John’s Co-cathedral was packed and as a down-to-earth northerner I was shocked to see parents kissing to hands of their just ordained sons. “Don’t you any feelings? Cannot you be happy with us?” I was asked by someone who noticed my expressionless face. It would take a few years before I learned to show my sentiments and be happy or sad with my Maltese friends.
The photo was taken during a courtesy call I made to the Archbishop in 1974 in order to congratulate him in his Jubilee.
I met the Archbishop several times. ‘When your book is ready, I want to read it’, he once told me. I remember two meetings with Archbishop Emeritus Gonzi after he stepped down in 1976. Both times he was in the company of the Vicar General, jolly Mgr. Carmelo. ‘Look at this man. I made him a priest, I made him a parish priest, I made him a monsignor and now he is the Vicar General.’
‘I am very busy, so they have given me an assistant.’
I’ve always had a soft spot for Mgr. Gonzi.
Many years later, preserved for posterity
The photo was taken in the Mdina Cathedral in December 2024.
(originally posted on Facebook 28th June 2026)