To chants of “Pawlu, Pawlu”, Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday took the stage within the full-to-capacity Ta’ Qali convention centre tent to meet with Maltese families for the first time.

Yesterday’s meeting represented the fifth such meetings the new archbishop has had with different social segments since being ordained on 26 January and follows on the heels of other, similar meetings with children, the elderly, the sick and prisoners.

Yesterday’s event organisers provided a high quality audio-visual experience, with a police band accompanying another large, on-stage ensemble of musicians and singers performing behind a colourful backdrop of lights and props.

And the presentation was highly appreciated by the 5,000-strong crowd assembled within the full house convention tent – the venue of the Malta Song for Europe festival on the previous night. Popular performers taking the stage yesterday included Claudette Pace and Julie and Ludwig.

Mgr Cremona appeared on stage yesterday hand-in-hand with renowned Maltese footballer Carmel Busuttil, his wife and family, and was also greeted by the family of Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier upon his arrival at Ta Qali.

With the message of the day being ‘Il-familja hija ghal qalbna’ (the family is close to our hearts), a half dozen families shared a variety of experiences with the crowd and the archbishop. Mgr Cremona, in his by now typical amicable and laid back fashion, fielded questions from families in the audience and delivered a talk on the importance of the family in today’s changing world.