Except in 16th century England the King was the heretic, not the pope and the hierarchy.
True, but all but one of the English bishops and most of the rank-and-file priests went along with Henry and later Elizabeth. Those who didn’t go along chose recusancy, exile or, in some cases, death. Fortunately, that last choice is likely off the table, but unless the Vatican changes course, Maltese priests will be forced into sacrilege or exile or a sort of recusancy.