Mario Grech, born on February 20, 1957, in Qala on the island of Gozo, Malta, is a Maltese Roman Catholic cardinal and canon lawyer. He served as Bishop of Gozo from 2005 to 2019 and was appointed Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops on September 15, 2020. Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal on November 28, 2020. As Secretary General, he coordinated the 2021–2024 Synod on Synodality and continues to oversee its implementation process within the Vatican.

Early Life and Education

Mario Grech was born in Qala, a village on the Maltese island of Gozo. During his childhood, his family moved to Ta' Kerċem, another village on the island. His parents were George and Stella Grech.

He completed his primary and secondary education at the Victoria Lyceum in Gozo. In 1977, he entered the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Victoria, where he studied philosophy and theology in preparation for the priesthood.

Priesthood and Studies in Rome

On May 26, 1984, Mario Grech was ordained a Catholic priest by Bishop Nicholas Joseph Cauchi, then Bishop of Gozo.

Following his ordination, he continued his education in Rome. At the Pontifical Lateran University, he obtained a licentiate in both canon law and civil law. He subsequently earned a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, commonly known as the Angelicum.

During his time in Rome, he also carried out pastoral duties and gained experience in ecclesiastical administration and legal procedures.

Pastoral and Administrative Responsibilities

After returning to Malta, Mario Grech served at the Cathedral of Gozo and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu. He later became parish priest of Ta' Kerċem in 2004.

Within the Diocese of Gozo, he served as Judicial Vicar and as a member of the Metropolitan Tribunal of Malta. He taught canon law at the diocesan seminary and participated in the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, and several diocesan commissions.

He was also involved in ecclesiastical communications and initiatives associated with the RTK Radio network and the Lumen Christi media centre.

Bishop of Gozo

On November 26, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Mario Grech Bishop of Gozo, succeeding Nicholas Joseph Cauchi. He received episcopal consecration on January 22, 2006, at the Cathedral of Gozo in Victoria.

During his episcopate, he supervised the pastoral and administrative activities of the diocese. His responsibilities included the formation of priests, parish administration, ecclesiastical tribunals, and religious education.

He promoted reforms within the diocesan ecclesiastical tribunal and issued pastoral letters addressing religious and social questions. He also participated in meetings and activities of the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

Grech served as Bishop of Gozo until October 2, 2019, when he was appointed to a new position at the Vatican. He continued as Apostolic Administrator of Gozo until August 2020.

Appointment to the Synod of Bishops

On October 2, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Mario Grech Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, succeeding Lorenzo Baldisseri in preparation for taking over the leadership of its General Secretariat.

On September 15, 2020, he formally became Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

The Synod of Bishops is an institution of the Catholic Church that brings bishops and other participants together to discuss matters concerning Church life and its mission. Its General Secretariat coordinates preparations, meetings, documentation, and follow-up activities.

Elevation to Cardinal

On November 28, 2020, Pope Francis created Mario Grech a cardinal during a consistory at the Vatican. He received the deaconry of Santi Cosma e Damiano in Rome.

He subsequently served as a member of several Vatican institutions, including the Dicastery for Bishops, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

He participated in the papal conclave held in May 2025, which elected Pope Leo XIV.

The Synod on Synodality

As Secretary General, Mario Grech coordinated the international synodal process initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021 under the theme For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission.

The process involved consultations within dioceses and Catholic communities worldwide, followed by national and continental meetings. The two sessions of the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops took place in October 2023 and October 2024.

The discussions addressed participation in Church life, the responsibilities of bishops and other members of the Church, consultation, decision-making, and cooperation among Catholic communities.

Following the publication of the Synod's Final Document in October 2024, Grech continued supervising the implementation process. In March 2025, the General Secretariat announced a schedule for local and international evaluation, culminating in an ecclesial assembly planned for October 2028.

Under Pope Leo XIV, Grech continued coordinating this work. In June 2026, he addressed an extraordinary consistory of cardinals concerning the implementation of synodality and the preparation of the 2027–2028 assemblies.

Major Ecclesiastical Positions

• 1984 – Ordained a Catholic priest
• 2004–2005 – Parish Priest of Ta' Kerċem
• 2005–2019 – Bishop of Gozo
• 2019–2020 – Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops
• 2019–2020 – Apostolic Administrator of Gozo
• 2020–present – Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops
• 2020 – Created Cardinal by Pope Francis

Source: Biyografiler.com