On 22 October the Vatican announced that Bishop George Bugeja OFM, Vicar Apostolic of Tripoli, Libya since 2015, has forwarded his resignation to Pope Leo XIV who has accepted it. Bishop George Bugeja is 63 years old and was ordained by the Bishop of Gozo, today Cardinal, Mario Grech, at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary in Gozo on 4 September 2015. He was born in Xagħra, Gozo, on 1 Julu 1962, entered the Franciscan Order in 1977 and was ordained priest on 5 July 1986. As a Franciscan friar George Bugeja was Guardian in Gozo, Sliema, Ħamrun and Rabat friaries, parish priest in the parish of Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor, Sliema, and also worked for some years in Propaganda Fide in Rome.
The years as Vicar Apostolic in Libya were marked by many events that rendered the Christian presence in the country difficult, but he always remained steadfast to stay close to the small Christian community, made up mainly of foreign workers. His 10 years of service as Vicar Apostolic were not easy, but he was also overjoyed when he received a personal phone call from Pope Francis encouraging him and the community in their mission in favour of inter-religious dialogue and peace.
The Maltese OFM Province wishes all the best to Bishop George Bugeja who will certainly continue to exercise his episcopal ministry wherever he is called and in the spirit of humility and simplicity of St. Francis.