The death is announced of Archbishop Emmanuel Gerada from Zejtun. Mons Gerada was born on 18th May 1920. In 1967 he was consecrated as Titular Bishop of Nomentum and Auxiliary Bishop of Mgr. Michael Gonzi. He served in various roles within the Diplomatic Corp of the Holy See. Mg.r Gerada died at 6.30 a.m. at Mater Dei Hospital.
BIOGRAPHY
Vatican diplomat born in Żejtun, Mgr. Gerada studied at the Lyceum, the Seminary, and the RUM where he graduated BA (1939) and was awarded a licentiate in theology in 1946. Mgr. Gerada was ordained priest by Bishop Mgr. Emmanuel Galea on 1st August 1943. He pursued further studies at Nottingham University College in 1944.
Mgr. Gerada obtained his doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University in 1952 and pursued a course leading to diplomatic service with the Holy See at the Pontificia Accademia Ecclesiastica in Rome. He was appointed attaché to the apostolic internunciature in Egypt in 1952 and private chamberlain to the Pope in 1953. He was transferred as secretary to the apostolic internunciature in India, and appointed secretary to the nunciature in Dublin in 1956 – on the death of the nuncio, he also performed the duties of chargé d’affaires. His next appointments were that of auditor of the nunciature and chargé d’affaires in Tokyo (1960 – 64). He was later posted to the apostolic delegation in Mexico.
In 1965 Mgr. Gerada was appointed counsellor of the nunciature and domestic prelate by Paul VI and in 1966 chargé d’affaires at Kigali, Rwanda.
On 18 June 1967, Mgr. Gerada was consecrated titular bishop of Nomentum by Archbishop Mgr. Michael Gonzi and appointed as his auxiliary. After a year, Mgr. Gerada was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Malta.
In 1973 Mgr. Gerada resumed his career in the Holy See’s diplomatic service; on his appointment as apostolic nuncio to El Salvador and Guatemala.
Mgr. Gerada’s next postings were those of apostolic nuncio to Pakistan (1980) and Ireland (1989). He retired in Malta in 1995 and passed away on the 21st January 2011.