Fr Paul Cremona was all smiles and amiability yesterday afternoon when he was introduced as Malta’s archbishop-designate by Apostolic Nuncio to Malta Archbishop Félix del Blanco Prieto.
Following the announcement, made before outgoing Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and the Presbyteral council that rose to give a rapturous standing ovation at the announcement, the room emptied leaving the newly appointed archbishop to address the press, accompanied by Pastoral Secretary Fr Charles Cordina.
Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday, Fr Cremona outlined his main message to the people of Malta. “The Lord Jesus has a message that has two ways of being transmitted and accepted,” he commented.
“One is obviously the question of faith in Jesus as the Son of God, and the second involves a wider acceptance of the word of God. I believe the word of God, even for those who do not believe in Jesus, urges people to look at the values of Christianity and to try to live by these values within the greater society. He came to teach us not just Christianity, but also how to live our lives with values such as humanity, forgiveness and love.” This issue of faith, he said, was one of the most important issues facing the Church.
Asked how his parents took the news this morning, Fr Cremona said they were overwhelmed. “They are 90 and 84 years old, so can you imagine their reaction?”
While Fr Cremona knew that Pope Benedict XVI had approved his appointment on Tuesday, he said it had been kept secret until today and that not even his parents had been in the know.
The date for Fr Cremona’s ordination as archbishop will be announced in the near future, but is expected to take place on his 61st birthday on 25 January.
Fr Cremona’s first priority, will be to remain close to the Maltese people. When asked what qualities he felt earned him the appointment, he cited an ability to “build bridges” by maintaining positive, constructive relationships with all priests.
Citing his appointment as a “great honour”, Fr Cremona said he will “accept the challenge out of a sense of obedience”.
Dressed sombrely and bearing no indication of his new office, Fr Cremona acknowledged that falling church attendance levels was an issue that “hurts”, and that the state of affairs represents a challenge that has to be taken up by Malta’s pastors.
Fr Cremona also paid tribute to his predecessor, describing him as a man of “ability and character” who had had an influence on him and with whom he has collaborated on many occasions in the past.
Today’s official announcement ended months of speculation. Succeeding outgoing Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, who has been the leader of Malta’s Catholic Church since 1976, Fr Cremona will leave his duties as parish priest of the Dominican parish of Jesus of Nazareth in Sliema and the Provincial Director
of the Maltese Lay Dominicans.
Born in Valletta on 25 January 1946, 60-year-old Fr Cremona was ordained on 22 March 1969 and was the Prior Provincial of the Maltese Dominican Province between 1982 and 1989.
The appointment had been expected at the beginning of September, when the Vatican returned from its summer recess. Interestingly, despite all the speculation that had been associated with the appointment, Fr Cremona’s name had not surfaced.