Twelve tumultuous months in the life of...

Malta had its fair share of scandals, got a Cardinal and witnessed more parliamentary backbench unrest. Anthony Manduca takes a look at the winners and losers of 2012. A good year for: Charles SciclunaThe Vatican’s Promoter of Justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and an expert in Canon Law, Mgr Scicluna’s appointment by the Pope as Malta’s Auxiliary Bishop immediately led many to believe that he was being groomed to replace Archbishop Paul Cremona. His wit and ease with the media, even when faced with tough questions, is seen by many as a welcome boost for the Maltese Church. Prospero GrechThe respected Rome-based theologian became Malta’s only second ever Cardinal during a ceremony presided over by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. Writing in the Catholic Herald, Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith, an English priest and doctor of moral theology, described Cardinal Grech, an Augustinian, as “possibly the most intelligent man alive”. Simon BusuttilThe popular MEP was elected deputy leader of the Nationalist Party, comfortably defeating Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, who had practically the entire Cabinet’s backing. Dr Busuttil’s election re-energised the PN’s...