Convicted Vatican choir master honoured at St John’s Co-Cathedral

The appearance in Malta of former Sistine Chapel Choir director Massimo Palombella has sparked controversy after the church musician, who was convicted at first instance by the Vatican City Tribunal over financial offences linked to his management of the Vatican choir, was honoured during a prestigious concert at St John’s Co-Cathedral yesterday.

Palombella conducted the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae of Milan during a concert held at Malta’s foremost religious and cultural landmark.

In publicising the event, the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation said it was “honoured” to host the renowned choir, highlighting Palombella’s appointment by Pope Benedict XVI as director of the Sistine Chapel Choir and his subsequent confirmation by Pope Francis.

However, the publicity made no reference to the legal proceedings that led to his quick and embarrassing departure from the Vatican.

According to multiple sources within the Archbishop’s Curia, the event has caused considerable unease among senior Church figures, with several describing the decision to honour Palombella as highly inappropriate.

Palombella stepped down from the Sistine Chapel Choir in 2019 after Pope Francis ordered an investigation into the financial management of the choir’s overseas concerts.

The investigation culminated in criminal proceedings before the Vatican City Tribunal.

In December 2024, the court convicted Palombella at first instance of abuse of office in connection with the management of the choir’s finances, sentencing him to more than three years’ imprisonment, imposing a fine and disqualifying him from holding public office. He was acquitted of the separate charge of embezzlement.

The judgment remains subject to the Vatican’s appeal process.

Following questions from The Shift, St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation CEO Tonio Mallia denied that the Foundation had invited Palombella.

“The Foundation has nothing to do with liturgical activities and events. This concert is a liturgical event and was not organized by the Foundation,” Mallia said.

Asked to clarify who had invited Palombella and who was responsible for the event, Mallia replied: “The invite was not done through the Foundation because, as I already explained, this is a liturgical concert.”

He added that the Foundation’s involvement was limited to logistical arrangements because the event was being held in the Cathedral.

Mallia, however, did not identify who extended the invitation or which ecclesiastical authority was responsible for organising the concert.

His explanation also does not reconcile with the Foundation’s own public communications, which promoted the concert through its official channels and declared that it was “honoured” to welcome the choir and Palombella to St John’s Co-Cathedral.

Foundation sources put the blame on Mgr Paul Carmel Vella – the rector of the Co-Cathedral appinted by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.

The controversy comes as the Foundation continues to face criticism over a series of contentious decisions and scandals, embarrassing Archbishop Charles Scicluna and the OPM, which are jointly responsible for the administration of the Co-Cathedral.

In recent months, The Shift revealed that the Foundation’s museum extension project had suffered years of delays, with estimated costs escalating to around €25 million. The Foundation also attracted criticism over its decision to commission a €70,000 Christmas crib, with heritage experts questioning both its artistic authenticity and whether personal interests had been allowed to outweigh the preservation of one of Malta’s most important historic churches.