ARCHBISHOP CARUANA, 0.S.B.

BISHOP OF MALTA As announced on page 1, the Most Rev. Sir Maurus Caruana, K.B.E., Archbishop-Bishop of Malta, who was born there in 1867, died on Friday of last week.
Educated at Sc, Ignatius' College. Malta, and 31 Fort Augustus. Scotland. he was professed monk at this'abbey in 1885, being ordained in 1891. He was engaged in mission work in Scotland, but acted between 1905 and 1906 as Secretary to this late Archbishop Agius, Apostolic Delegate to the Philippine Islands, In 1915 he was consecrated Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes, being created in the same Year Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. John.
In his appreciation, written for THE CATHOLIC HERALD, Mr. Hugh Burns, formerly Associate Editor of the Malta Chronicle, and News Editor of Radio' Relay Service (Malta), Ltd, says: " A mart of otivious holiness, shy and retiring in habits, disliking the pomp associated with his ancient office, the Archbishop had a stately dignified presence and a most beautifully melodious voice. Ile was indeed the prince of his people.
" Mgr. Caruana will rest in the tomb he had built in his own church of St. Edward the Confessor, in Sliema—one of the suburbs of Valetta—a church which, almost unscathed by the bombs which have fallen thickly all around, owed its inception and completion to his untiring efforts."
With the see of Malta was combined the title of Archbishop of Rhodes (from 1797 till 1928), the former see dating back to St. Paul, who visited the island. When the Archbishopric of Rhodes was revived in 1928 told an Ordinary appointed there, Mgr. Caruana retained his personal title of Archbishop. The late Archbishop had long been in failing health, and on the occasion of the visit to Malta early last summer of the King he had a stroke from which
Archbishop-Bishop of Malta
he never recovered. Last October the Holy See appointed Mgr. Gonzi, pf Gozo, who for many years had performed many of the episcopal duties of the see of Malta, to be assistant to Mgr. Caruana.
Mgr. Caruana was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1918, and he was also a Grand Cross of the Order of St., John. By the custom of over a hundred years—dating back to the time when his aneestor, Canon Camaro, commanded the Maltese levies which under Sir Thomas Graham blockaded Bonaparte's garriSon in Valetta from 1798 to 1800—he ranked as an Honorary BrigadierGeneral in the British Army. And, with the Governor and Commander-in-Chief and the Naval Commander-in-Chief, he was entitled to a salute from the guard on Palace Square in Valetta. When the rank of Brigadier-General was abolished in the British Army, Mgr. Caruana was made Honorary MajorGen eral.
" During the war years," writes Mr. Burns, " during the thirty rnonths of constant day and night bombing, and afterwards, during the aftermath of semi-starvation and general shortage of essentials of food and clothing, leek of adequate housing and transport facilities, Mgr. Caruana earned admitation and gratitude for his resolute spiritual euidance. His unflagging conviction that the cause of right would survive into •victory heartened his flock ; while his staunch backing a the authorities in the measures of defence—measures which often pressed heavily on the community—earned their warm thanks and appreciation.
" He and his friend Bishop Gonzi were often together for days during times of particular danger and tension. Some of the MOMS or the ancient Bishop's palace at Mdina are built into the city wale and night after night the two bishops, the old and the young would look out over the countryside spread below them. watching the bombs bursting on the island's airfields stretching away beneath; blessing the young men seeking the enemy in the night sky, and the staunch gunners whose barrage never failed save through shortage of shells."