Monsignor Paolo Micallef was born in Valletta, Malta, on May 15, 1818. Joining the Augustinian Order, he was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on March 6, 1841.
In 1855, Pope Pius IX appointed him Vicar General of the Order, being later confirmed in the General Chapter in 1859. Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Città di Castello, he received his episcopal consecration at St. Augustine's in Rome on January 10, 1864.
In 1866, the First Bishop of the Diocese of Gozo, Msgr. Michele Francesco Buttigieg, died. Pope Pius IX appointed Msgr. Micallef, apostolic administrator of the see. He stayed in office for two years, ran it smoothly and was very active.
The appointment of Msgr. Anton Grech-Delicata as administrator, and afterwards as bishop of Gozo, came out of the blue.
The Gozitans loved Msgr. Micallef. When he went to Rome for the centenary celebrations of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Gozitans sent a telegram to the Vatican authorities asking that Msgr. Micallef be appointed their bishop.
Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli replied that Msgr. Micallef had been already appointed to a larger diocese. He was infact named Primate of Sardinia and Corsica and Archbishop of Pisa, following the death of Monsignor Cosimo Corsi. Msgr. Micallef died in Pisa, aged 64, and his remains are buried in the Duomo.
A monument to him was erected at the Archbishop's Palace of Pisa. Msgr. Micallef loved Malta and was homesick. He even commissioned a painting of the Grand Harbour for his room which still exists.
In 1855, Pope Pius IX appointed him Vicar General of the Order, being later confirmed in the General Chapter in 1859. Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Città di Castello, he received his episcopal consecration at St. Augustine's in Rome on January 10, 1864.
In 1866, the First Bishop of the Diocese of Gozo, Msgr. Michele Francesco Buttigieg, died. Pope Pius IX appointed Msgr. Micallef, apostolic administrator of the see. He stayed in office for two years, ran it smoothly and was very active.
The appointment of Msgr. Anton Grech-Delicata as administrator, and afterwards as bishop of Gozo, came out of the blue.
The Gozitans loved Msgr. Micallef. When he went to Rome for the centenary celebrations of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Gozitans sent a telegram to the Vatican authorities asking that Msgr. Micallef be appointed their bishop.
Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli replied that Msgr. Micallef had been already appointed to a larger diocese. He was infact named Primate of Sardinia and Corsica and Archbishop of Pisa, following the death of Monsignor Cosimo Corsi. Msgr. Micallef died in Pisa, aged 64, and his remains are buried in the Duomo.
A monument to him was erected at the Archbishop's Palace of Pisa. Msgr. Micallef loved Malta and was homesick. He even commissioned a painting of the Grand Harbour for his room which still exists.
Monsignor Paolo Micallef was born in Valletta, Malta, on May 15, 1818. Joining the Augustinian Order, he was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on March 6, 1841.
In 1855, Pope Pius IX appointed him Vicar General of the Order, being later confirmed in the General Chapter in 1859. Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Città di Castello, he received his episcopal consecration at St. Augustine's in Rome on January 10, 1864.
In 1866, the First Bishop of the Diocese of Gozo, Msgr. Michele Francesco Buttigieg, died. Pope Pius IX appointed Msgr. Micallef, apostolic administrator of the see. He stayed in office for two years, ran it smoothly and was very active.
The appointment of Msgr. Anton Grech-Delicata as administrator, and afterwards as bishop of Gozo, came out of the blue.
The Gozitans loved Msgr. Micallef. When he went to Rome for the centenary celebrations of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Gozitans sent a telegram to the Vatican authorities asking that Msgr. Micallef be appointed their bishop.
Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli replied that Msgr. Micallef had been already appointed to a larger diocese. He was infact named Primate of Sardinia and Corsica and Archbishop of Pisa, following the death of Monsignor Cosimo Corsi. Msgr. Micallef died in Pisa, aged 64, and his remains are buried in the Duomo.
A monument to him was erected at the Archbishop's Palace of Pisa. Msgr. Micallef loved Malta and was homesick. He even commissioned a painting of the Grand Harbour for his room which still exists.
In 1855, Pope Pius IX appointed him Vicar General of the Order, being later confirmed in the General Chapter in 1859. Appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Città di Castello, he received his episcopal consecration at St. Augustine's in Rome on January 10, 1864.
In 1866, the First Bishop of the Diocese of Gozo, Msgr. Michele Francesco Buttigieg, died. Pope Pius IX appointed Msgr. Micallef, apostolic administrator of the see. He stayed in office for two years, ran it smoothly and was very active.
The appointment of Msgr. Anton Grech-Delicata as administrator, and afterwards as bishop of Gozo, came out of the blue.
The Gozitans loved Msgr. Micallef. When he went to Rome for the centenary celebrations of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Gozitans sent a telegram to the Vatican authorities asking that Msgr. Micallef be appointed their bishop.
Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli replied that Msgr. Micallef had been already appointed to a larger diocese. He was infact named Primate of Sardinia and Corsica and Archbishop of Pisa, following the death of Monsignor Cosimo Corsi. Msgr. Micallef died in Pisa, aged 64, and his remains are buried in the Duomo.
A monument to him was erected at the Archbishop's Palace of Pisa. Msgr. Micallef loved Malta and was homesick. He even commissioned a painting of the Grand Harbour for his room which still exists.
Advertisement
Advertisement
