Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona, OP, yesterday pledged to remain in close contact with the people because this was one of the ways he could carry out his mission – that of drawing people closer to God.

The Archbishop described his first month in office as “very hectic” but expressed his satisfaction that he managed to meet various sectors of Maltese society, from the jail inmates to the sick in hospital, to students at university and people living a religious life.

Probably referring to media reports on the embarrassing questions asked by students and professors during his visit to the university last week, Mgr Cremona said that some thought these questions had made him feel uncomfortable.

However, he said, these questions were important because they made him think and reflect on what people were passing through and understand better what people’s worries were.

He said he looked forward to these personal experiences but now, he said, he wanted to keep up this close contact with people.

He said he had learned a lot during this month and that the people he met who had moral and sickness problems taught him a great deal.

“Personal contact is important because through this I can lead them to God and this is my final aim,” he said.

Explaining his pastoral letter for Lent that was read out during Mass at the weekend, Archbishop Cremona described it as a reflection on God’s love, urging people who left the Church to rediscover Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Church.

He said he also spoke about the mystery of Easter – turning something negative into something positive. He said Christians should look at the Blessed Virgin Mary’s example: she lived the suffering and death of her son Jesus with great sorrow. But she changed all this to a Resurrection because, instead of shutting herself off from the world, she joined her Son’s disciples in prayer to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit.