Mikiel Gonzi
|
His Excellency Sir Michael Gonzi KBE |
|
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Malta | |
 |
|
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Malta |
| See | Malta |
| In office | 1943 — 1976 |
| Predecessor | Mauro Caruana |
| Successor | Joseph Mercieca |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 19 December 1908 |
| Consecration | 17 December 1943 by Mauro Caruana |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 May 1885 Vittoriosa, Birgu, Malta |
| Died | January 22, 1984 (aged 98) Malta |
| Nationality |
 Maltese
|
| Previous post |
Bishop of Gozo, Coadjutor Bishop of Malta, Bishop of Malta, Titular Bishop of Lyrbe Bishop |
Count Sir Michael Gonzi, KBE (Maltese Mikiel Gonzi) (13 May 1885 – 22 January 1984) was Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malta (Bishop before this Malta elevated to the status of archdiocese during his tenure). He had also been Bishop of Gozo and an elected Labour Senator in the Malta Legislative Assembly.
He was born as Michele Gonzi in Vittoriosa and ordained to the priesthood in 1908.
Elected as a Labour Senator in the Malta Legislative Assembly in 1921 he resigned half-way into his term to be ordained as the 5th Bishop of Gozo in 1924. He held this office until 14 October 1943 when he became coadjutor bishop of Malta and Titular Bishop of Lyrbe. Three months later Mauro Caruana, Bishop of Malta, died, and on 17 December Gonzi succeeded him. Gonzi became Archbishop in 1944 when Malta was elevated to an Archdiocese.
Gonzi was instrumental in helping families without decent dwellings to find good houses. He commissioned the construction of apartments for families and was also the motor behind the construction of many churches especially the one in Kalkara.
Gonzi resigned his post of Archbishop of Malta in 1978 to be succeeded by Joseph Mercieca.
Gonzi's tenure as Archbishop of Malta was marred with strained relations with the Labour Party particularly its leader Dom Mintoff.
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Wikipedia