Archbishop Paul Cremona, OP, continued his visits to people in their place of work yesterday, when he visited Maltapost.

The Maltapost administration showed Mgr Cremona around an exhibition of stamps and designs by the late artist Emvin Cremona, a cousin of the Archbishop’s father. The archbishop afterwards signed copies of commemorative stamps, postcards and envelopes published to mark his ordination.

Later, the archbishop was shown around the sorting room, where he was presented with a bouquet of flowers and posed for a group photograph with the staff. He then moved on to a mail room where he was welcomed with prolonged applause by employees.

In the mail room, chairman David Stellini said the archbishop’s visits to workers were similar to those carried out by the late Pope John XXIII, who was a great reformer. He pointed out that this was a special year for the Church in Malta, because in the wake of the appointment of a new archbishop, the country would have its first saint in June.

The chairman said Maltapost would issue commemorative philatelic items to mark this event, as it had done on the ordinations of the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr Mario Grech, and the Archbishop of Malta. Mr Stellini ended by commenting on the fact that Maltapost had excellent communication channels in Malta, but these were surely outdone by those of Mgr Cremona.

Archbishop Cremona said he was very happy to be at Maltapost and thanked the company for issuing commemorative stamps to mark his election. He said people should appreciate that someone’s hard work was behind every service provided. He thanked Maltapost employees for their service and pledged that he would do his utmost to continue being close to the people.

Mr Stellini presented Mgr Cremona with commemorative philatelic products marking his and Mgr Grech’s ordination and a collection of stamps issued between 1964 and 2004. He also introduced Paul Borg, the postman who used to deliver mail to the Dominican Convent in Sliema, where Mgr Cremona served as parish priest, and the archbishop’s current postman, John Cassar.

Industry, Investment and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt was also present for the occasion.