General Secretariat of the Synod

Biography of Cardinal Mario Grech

Born in Qala - Malta (20.2.1957).

He studied at the Gozo Lyceum followed by studies in philosophy and theology for the priesthood at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Gozo (1977-84). Bishop Nikol Cauchi ordained him priest at Gozo Cathedral on 26 May 1984.

In 1986 Grech graduated with a licentiate in canon and civil law from the Pontifical Lateral University, Rome. He obtained a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas with his thesis ‘The harmonization of the religious and civil dimensions of canonical marriages in Malta’ in 1998. In Rome he carried out pastoral work in the parish church of the Assumption of Mary.

Back in Gozo in 1988, Grech was appointed lecturer in canon law at the seminary and began working in the ecclesiastical tribunal of which he eventually was elected judical vicar. At the same time he was also appointed judge at the metropolitan tribunal of Malta.

A member of the college of counsellors and of the diocesan commissions of theology, of the family, and social communications, Grech carried out pastoral work at the Cathedral, Victoria, Ta' Pinu Sanctuary, Ta’ Kerċem parish, and San Lawrenz parish. He was appointed parish priest of Ta’ Kerċem on 13 November 2004. Fr Grech was Instructing Judge in the diocesan process for the beatification of Mother Margherita Debrincat and Mons. Giuseppe De Piro.

Bishop of Gozo

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Grech bishop of Gozo with his decree Redemptorem nostrum of 26 November 2005. He was consecrated bishop at the Gozo Cathedral on 22 Janury 2006 by Bishop Nikol Cauchi, assisted by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, and Archbishop Felix del Blanco Prieto, the Apostolic Nuncio for Malta.

In October 2006, Bishop Mario Grech was awarded ‘Ġieħ Kercem’ from Ta’ Kerċem Local Council.

Bishop Grech was President of the Maltese Episcopal Conference from 2013 to 2015. During this term, Bishop Grech respresented the Maltese Episcopal Conference for the Plenary Assemblies of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) in Bratislava 2013, Rome 2014, and the Holy Land 2015.

Representing the Maltese Episcopal Conference, Bishop Grech took part in the 13th and 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Synod on the New Evangelization, Rome 2012 / Synod of the Family Rome 2015) and the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Extraordinary Synod of the Family, Rome 2014).

He also represented the Maltese Conference at the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) during 2008-2012 and again in 2017.

From 2008-2019 Bishop Mario Grech represented the Maltese Episcopal Conference at the Annual General Assembly of the Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI).

Bishop Mario Grech carried out pastoral visits to the Maltese communities, priests, and missionaries in the USA and Canada (2008), Brasil (2009), Australia (2011) and Peru (2018). In 2012, Bishop Grech together with Archbishop Cremona, were received by Pope Benedict XVI on their ad limina visit to the Holy See. In 2010, both bishops welcomed Pope Benedict XVI on his pastoral visit to Malta.

General Secretariat of Synod of Bishops

On the 2nd October 2019, Pope Francis appionted Bishop Grech as the Pro-Secretary General for the Synod of Bishops and Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Gozo. He was a member of the Synod for Amazonia (2019).

Since 28th April 2020 he is member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

On 15 September 2020, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Mario Grech as Secretary General for the Synod of Bishops. Created Cardinal on the Consistory of the november 28th 2020.

Publications of Mario Grech:

2001:  M. Grech, The harmonization of the religious and civil dimensions of Canonical Marriage in Malta; an exegetical study of the agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Malta on the recognition of civil effects to Canonical Marriage.

2008:  M. Grech, Oħorġu fil-pjazez: omeliji u diskorsi 2006-2008.

2019:  M. Grech, Għeżież Edukaturi

2020   M. Grech, Tibżax tieħu għandek lil Marija.

Pastoral Letters by M. Grech:

“L-Ispirtu li joħroġna fid-desert” (2006);

“Missier li jħaddan lil kulħadd” (2007);

“Alla jagħmel ġustizzja mal-magħżulin tiegħu” (2009);

"Soċjeta fejn tgħammar is-solidarjeta” (2010);

“Għajn ta’ ilma ġieri” (2011);

“Inħarsu l-familja” (2012);

“Mara li ħabbet ħafna” (2012);

“Warda ġdida fil-ġnien ta’ gżiritna” (2013);

“Knisja qrib il-marid” (2013);

“Niltaqgħu mal-Imħabba t’Alla” (2013);

“L-imħabba sabieħa” (2014);

“Kristu jixxotta d-dmugħ” (2015);

“Duwa tal-ħniena għall-familja” (2015);

“Biex twarrad it-tama” (2017);

“Il-pjaga tal-vjolenza dometika” (2017)’

“Neħtieġu lil Kristu” (Awwissu 2018);

“Sena Marjana fid-Djoċesi” (Novembru 2018);

“Nintelqu f’dirgħajn Ommna Marija” (Mejju 2019);

“Marija t-Triq ta-Ferħ” (Awwissu 2019);

“Widnejn miftuħa” (Settembru 2019).

Pastoral Letter by M. Grech - J. Mercieca:

“Kuxjenza favur il-mara” (2006).

Pastoral letters by M. Grech – P. Cremona:

“Il-veru ferħ tal-bniedem” (2007);

“Saċerdot mibgħut minn Alla” (2007);

“IL-veru futur tal-bniedem” (2007);

“Xi tridu? X’qegħdin tfittxu?” (2008);

“Lejn poplu aktar magħqud” (2008);

“Ġie f’darna u lqajnieh” (2008);

“Fuq il-passi ta’ Missierna San Pawl (2008);

“Bżonn ta’ bidla mill-qiegħ fil-ħajja nisranija tagħna” (2009);

“Sejħulhom Kristjani” (2009); “Għand min imorru” (2010)

“Il-presepju fil-familja tagħna” (2010);

“Iż-żwieġ, il-familja u n-nisrani quddiem Ġesu” (2010);

“Jeħtieġ li naslu fi gżira” (2010);

“Il-kuraġġ li niġġeddu” (2011);

“Il-kwalita tal-ħajja nisranija” (2011);

“Il-loġika t’Alla – il-loġika ta’ Kristu” (2011);

“Niċċelebraw il-ħajja” (2012);

“Nafdawkom f’idejn Alla u l-Kelma tiegħu” (2012);

“Is-sena tal-fidi” (2012). “Eżilju” (2012);

“L-għożża tal-ħajja - niċċelebraw il-ħajja umana” (2012).

Pastoral letters by M. Grech - P. Cremona - A. Depasquale:

“Għażla favur zwieġ dejjiemi” (2011);

“Nota dottrinali dwar iż-żwieġu l-familja” (2011).

Pastoral letters by M. Grech – P. Cremona – Charles J. Scicluna: 

“Il-Milied festa tal-għerusija tal-Mulej mal-poplu tiegħu” (2013);

“Rispett lejn il-verita u lejn xulxin” (2013);

“Zmien ta’ talb u karita” (2013);

“Sehemna fil-bini tas-soċjeta” (2014).

Pastoral letters by M. Grech - Charles J. Scicluna:

“Inħennu bħal Missier” (2015);

“Ngħożżu l-ħajja” (2016);

“Kristu mediċina għall-mard tagħna” (2016);

“Nerfgħu r-responsabilita tagħna” (2017);

“Il-ferħ tal-imħabba” (2017);

“Għażliet skont il-qalb ta’ Alla” (2017).

”Guidelines for the Application of Chapter Eight of Amoris Laetitia” (2017); 

“Nerfgħu r-responsabilita’ tagħna (2017);

“Ngħożżu dak li hu sabiħ u tajjeb (Frar 2018);

“Nibnu djarna fuq il-blat” (Settembru 2018);

“Tibżgħux tieħdu lil Marija għandkom” (2019);

“Ejjew nilqgħu b’qalb kbira lill-Papa Franġisku” (2020).

Bibliography:

M. Grech, “Marriage legislation in Malta – the dawn of civil marriage”, Forum 1/2 (1991), 87-94.; J.M. Attard, ‘Monsinjur Mario Grech l-Isqof ġdid ta’ Għawdex’, N (18.i.2006); F. Azzopardi, MP, ‘Minn Dun għal Isqof’, N (25.i.2006); J. Bezzina, ‘Gozo welcomes its eighth bishop’, ST (22.i.2006); M. Cauchi, ‘Another 48-year-old Gozitan Bishop’, T (28.i.2006); A. Gauci, ‘Kelmtejn fuq l-Isqof il-ġdid’, Ġens (10.xii.2005); ‘New young Bishop for Gozo’, TMIS (27.xi.2005);

‘Episcopal confirmation of Mgr Mario Grech as Bishop of Gozo’,TMI (23.i.2006), ‘Mons Mario Grech inħatar l-isqof il-ġdid ta’ Għawdex’, M (27.xi.2005); ‘L-isqof il-ġdid ta’ Għawdex ikun konsagrat illum’, suppliment, M (22.i.2006); ‘Nagħti ħajti biex insalvaw lil kull wieħed, lill-familja, lis-soċjetà’ N (23.i.2006); ‘L-Isqof Mario Grech irid ikun qrib il-poplu’, N (7.i.2006); ‘New Bishop for Gozo soon’, T (26.xi.2005); ‘Gozo has new pastor’, T (23.i.2006); ‘New Gozo Bishop lays stress on priests and family’, T (7.i.2006); ‘Kerċem parish priest is new Bishop of Gozo’, ST (27.xi.2005); ‘A new bishop’, ST (4.xii.2005); ‘Blessed is he who comes ...’, ST (4.xii.2005); ‘Għażla kontroversjali’, Torċa (27.xi.2005); ‘Mons Mario Grech illum jinħatar it-tmien Isqof ta’ Għawdex’,Torċa (22.i.2006); Kulħadd (22.i.2006); ‘Mons Mario Grech - it-tmien isqof tad-Djoċesi Għawdxija’, Torċa (22.i.2006); ‘Mons. Mario Grech maħtur Isqof tad-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex’, LIS (3.xii.2005); ‘Il-Konsagrazzjoni ta’ l-Isqof il-ġdid ta’ Għawdex’, LIS (14.i.2006); ‘Għada jiġi kkonsagrat l-Isqof Mario Grech’, LIS (21.i.2006); ‘Għawdex jilqa’ b’ferħ kbir lill-Isqof Mario Grech’, LIS (28.i.2006); ‘Reazzjonijiet għan-nomina ta’ l-Isqof il-ġdid ta’ Għawdex’, Ġens (3.xii.2005);

‘L-Isqof ta’ Għawdex se jkun ordnat nhar il-Ħadd 22 ta’ Jannar’, Ġens (10.xii.2005); ‘Irrid inkun strument biex inħeġġeġ il-qlub maqtugħa’, Ġens (21.i.2006); ‘L-isfidi quddiem l-Isqof Grech’, Ġens (21.i.2006);‘Maħtur Isqof ta’ Għawdex’, or (23.i.2006); Ordinazzjoni Episkopali u Bidu tal-Ministeru ta’ Mons Mario Grech Bħala Isqof ta’ Għawdex (2006); Il-ħajja f’Għawdex, Special issue (n. 876); A. Massa,

‘A priest of today’s times’, ST (30.xii.2007); ‘L-Isqof Mario Grech, President tal-Konferenza Episkopali Maltija’, LIS (25.viii.2013); Mario Grech, “Immigration id s challenge and an opportuity” TM (2.ix.13); 

Kurt Sansone, ‘Church cannot ignore the reality of modern families’, ST (2.xi.2014); Charles Muscat, ‘Nitkellmu inqas bejnietna, imma nitkellmu iktar ma’ Alla’, interview with Bishop Mario Grech, N (5.xi.2014); ‘It-II Assemblea Ġenerali tas-Sinodu: ‘L-Isfidi Pastorali dwar il-Familji fil-Kuntest tal-Evanġelizzazzjoni’, intervent tal-Isqof Mario Grech, Il-Ħajja f’Għawdex (November 2014);  Mario Grech “A balm of mercy for the family”, MI,(18.viii.15);  Kevin Schembri Orland, interview  “I cannot remain silent when faced with the murder of a human being” MI (13.ix.15); Charles De Pechpeyrou,  interview  "La compassion n'est pas un populisme, mais l'attitude du Seigneur" in La Vie, 15.x.15; Keith Micallef, interview: “Church must reach out” STM (6.12.2015); 

‘Gozo Bishop Mario Grech urges organ and blood donation’, TMIS (31.vii.2016);  Mario Grech, ‘No one is an empty tomb” TMI (16.iv.17); Kurt Sansone, interview: ‘The space to explore one’s faith’, ST (16.iv.2017); Mario Grech, Culture of personal encounter, TM, (3.vii.17); Mario Grech, “Umaniżmu Ekoloġiku huwa possibbli” (Orizzont 2.x.17, 18);

Mario Grech, ‘Il saluto rivolto al Pontefice dal vescovo di Gozo’, Osservatore Romano, 19-20/04/2010 [9], p. 11; Nicola Gori, ‘Intervista al vescovo di Gozo - La famiglia al centro della società’, OR, 30/05/2012 [124], p.7; Mario Grech,‘Le sfide pastorali della famiglia Credibili perché misericordiosi’, OR, 10/04/2015 [081], p.7; Mario Grech, ‘Giubileo e confessione - Meglio abbondare’, OR, 06/02/2016 [029], p.7; Mario Grech, ‘Il pellegrinaggio interiore - Punto di svolta’, OR, 18/03/2016 [064], p. 7; Mario Grech, ‘Come la luce di un faro Vangelo della misericordia per famiglia e vita’, OR, 07/07/2016 [153], p. 7; Mario Grech, ‘La nullità del matrimonio e la «Mitis iudex Dominus Iesus» Tutto il bene possibile, OR, 04/12/2016 [279], p. 7; Mario Grech, ‘Il bambino Gesù nella grotta di Betlemme Nato in mezzo all’impurità’, OR, 31/12/2016 [299], p. 7; Charles J. Scicluna e Mario Grech, ‘Criteri applicativi di «Amoris laetitia» Luce per le nostre famiglie’, OR, 14/01/2017 [010], p. 7; Mario Grech, ‘La conversione pastorale Misericordia medicina per l’oggi’, OR, 03-04/07/2017 [151], p. 7;  Mario Grech, ‘Cultura della post verita’, OR 22/3/18, 6;  Mario Grech ‘Il senso della maternita”, OR 30/3/18; 6; Mario Grech, ‘Pensare fuori dagli schemi’, in Missione Oggi,1 (gennaio 2016); ‘Cambiare modello di Chiesa’, in MO, 2 (febbraio-marzo 2016); ‘Quando finisce la notte?’, in MO, 3(aprile-maggio 2016), ‘Dare spazio alla coscienza’, in MO, 4 (giugno-luglio 2016); ‘Per una visione “cattolica”’, in MO, 5 (agosto-settembre 2016); ‘Nella fragilità, la salvezza’, in MO, 6 (ottobre-novembre 2016); ‘Dio offre sempre una nuova possibilità’, in MO, 7 (dicembre 2016).  Mario Grech, ‘Sinodo sempre piu’ crocevia missionaria per la Chiesa’ OR 2/3/11/19 p.6; Mario Grech, ‘Tiriamo fuori le nostre mangiatoie’, OR 20/12/19, p 8; Mario Grech, ‘Uscire dal guscio dell’egoismo’, OR 12/4/2020, p.9

“Neħtieġu lil Kristu” (Awwissu 2018); “Sena Marjana fid-Djoċesi” (Novembru 2018); “Nintelqu f’dirgħajn Ommna Marija” (Mejju 2019); “Marija t-Triq ta-Ferħ” (Awwissu 2019); “Widnejn miftuħa” (Settembru 2019)