Updated - adds Archbishop Scicluna's comment. First uploaded on Thursday

A parish priest's decision to ban a hymn during funeral Mass because it was not in Maltese has earned the condemnation of Archbishop Charles Scicluna.

The incident happened on Thursday when Gzira parish priest Fr Carmelo Tanti did not allow the popular hymn Panis Angelicus from being sung during communion.

It was one of the deceased’s favourite hymns.

In a tweet this morning, Archbishop Scicluna referred to the story in Times of Malta and said: "Sad! Apologies to all who cherish our Catholic heritage."

Fr Tanti had defended his position saying the funeral was being held during a scheduled Mass, which the public could attend.

“I do not think it is right for people to come to church for Mass and then hear something they do not understand," he said.

Fr Tanti said he appreciated the Maltese language so much and could not understand how the people were so happy when Maltese had been accepted as an official EU language but then did not give the new hospital a Maltese name.

"To me this jars,” he said.



The parish priest said he had informed the family of his decision a day earlier.

He added he made several concessions including allowing a relative of the deceased, a priest, to perform part of the funeral celebration.

Panis Angelicus is the last two stanzas of the hymn Sacris solemniis, composed by St Thomas Aquinas.