Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of General Secretary of the Synod, Bishop emeritus of Gozo, was born in Qala, Malta, in the Diocese of Gozo on 20 February 1957.

He completed his primary and secondary studies at the Victoria Lyceum in Gozo, and studied philosophy and theology in the seminary of Gozo.

Following priestly ordination on 26 May 1984, he pursued higher studies in Rome, obtaining a licentiate in Utroque Iure at the Pontifical Lateran University and a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).  Upon return to his home country, he exercised his ministry at the Cathedral of Gozo, at the national shrine of Tá-Pinu and served as pastor in the parish of Kercem.  He held the offices of Judicial Vicar of the Diocese, member of the metropolitan tribunal of Malta, teacher of canon law in the seminary and member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council and other diocesan commissions.

On 26 November 2005 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Bishop of Gozo, where he served until 2 October 2019, when he was appointed by Pope Francis as pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

He received episcopal consecration on the 22 January 2006.

On 15 September 2020 he was appointed as Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 28 November 2020, of the Deaconry of Santi Cosma e Damiano.

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for Bishops; for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; for Promoting Christian Unity;
• Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses;
• Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.