News

January 20, 2018
Mgr. Sylvester Carmel Magro, OFM, RIP

Mgr. Sylvester Carmel Magro, who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Benghazi in Libya from 1997 until 2016, passed peacefully this morning at the age of 76, comforted by the rites of Holy Church.

Mgr. Sylvester Magro was born in Rabat, Malta on 14 February 1941. In 1957 he joined the Franciscan order and was ordained a priest nine years later on 26 March 1966. In 1982 Magro became the parish priest of Sliema in Malta. In 1991 he became responsible for the Maltese and English-speaking communities in Libya. In 1997 Pope John Paul II appointed him as the Apostolic Vicar of Benghazi. He was ordained bishop by the Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, Archbishop Mgr. José Sebastián Laboa Gallego. He was assisted by Mgr. Joseph Mercieca the Archbishop of Malta and Mgr. Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. During the Libyan Civil War Bishop Magro was repeatedly told to flee the country for his own safety, however he still remained with the people of Libya even in the midst of the difficult times. He was also warned repeatedly to flee Benghazi due to the area’s instability.

May God Grant him eternal Rest.

• Funeral details
• KOMUNIKAT TAL-ISQOF T’GĦAWDEX

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Malti:

Mons Sylvester Carmel Magro, li serva bħala Vigarju Appostoliku ta’ Benghazi fil-Libja mill-1997 sa 2016, ħalla din id-dinja dalgħodu fl-eta ta’ 76, ikkonfortat bis-sagramenti mqaddsa.

Mons. Sylvestru Carmel Magro, Twieled ir-Rabat fl-14 ta’ frar 1941, huwa studja fil-Kulleġġ Stella maris tal-Gżira u ngħaqad mal-Patrijiet Franġiskani fl-1957. Studja l-filosofija u t-teologija fis-Seminarju Franġiskan tar-Rabat. Hu pprofessa fl-1962 u kien ordnat saċerdot fl-1966. Huwa kompla l-istudji tiegħu fl-Università Pontificja Antonianum u f’dik tal-Lateran f’Ruma fejn ħa d-dottorat fit-teoloġija dommatika u fit-teoloġija pastorali.

Meta ġie lura Malta, Mons. Magro beda jgħallem it-teoloġija fis-Seminarju Franġiskan. Fl-1982 inħatar kappillan tal-Parroċċa tas-Sacro Cuor f’Tas-Sliema. Fl-1988 huwa ngħaqad fil-missjoni Franiskana tal-provinċja ta’ Milan fil-Libja, li aktar tard f’Mejju tal-1991 għaddiet f’idejn il-provinċja tagħna ta’ Malta.

Fl-istess żmien hu nħatar vigarju ġenerali tal-Isqof Giovanni Martinelli. Inħatar ukoll kappillan tal-komunità Kattolika Maltija u tal-komunitajiet kattoliċi li jitkellmu bl-Ingliż.

Fl-1997 huwa inħatar isqof ta’ Salde u vigarju appostoliku ta’ Benghazi fil-Libja.

Huwa kien konsagrat f’malta fl-1997. Fi Frar 2006 l-Isqof Magro kien kostrett li jibqa’ Triplo minħabba l-attakki fuq kristjani tal-Punent li nqalgħu wara l-attakki li kienu saru fuq il-Profeta Muhammed f’partijiet differenti tal-Ewropa. Aktar tard il-knisja u d-dar tal-Isqof Magro ġew attakkati, misruqa u ngħataw in-nar.

Fll-2002, Mons. Magro ingħata ‘The cross of the Equestrian Order of Merit’ mill-President Pollakk, għall-ħidma tiegħu fost il-komunità kattolka pollakka fil-Libja. Huwa kiteb ktieb dwar “il-Verġni Marija fil-Bibbja” u “min hi Marija?”.

Agħtiħ Mulej il-Mistrieħ ta’ dejjem.

• Dettaliji fuq il-funeral
• KOMUNIKAT TAL-ISQOF T’GĦAWDEX