Archbishop Charles Scicluna on Saturday paid tribute to Mgr Victor Grech, founder of Caritas, describing him as a "Prophet" and a shepherd who gave his life to hundreds of people plagued with life problems, especially those with addiction.

Mgr Scicluna was leading the funeral Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

Mgr Victor Grech died last Wednesday, aged 95. A day of mourning for Saturday was declared by the government soon after his death.

The State funeral was attended by President Myriam Spiteri Debono and her husband, Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife, Speaker Anglu Farrugia, Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti,  Opposition Leader Bernard Grech and his wife, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, as well as Ministers, and MPs from both sides of the house.

Mgr Scicluna said that God chose Grech as a prophet, the peoples' servant. Mgr Grech saw God as his friend, and once his body died, he would see God, see his "close" friend, whom he truly knows.

"He felt the call for priesthood, for sacrifice. For many of us, our first meeting with Mgr Grech was through the media, when hundreds of Maltese and Gozitans would wait to hear his calm and profound voice on the radio," Scicluna said.

He continued that Mgr Grech's voice reached a person's heart, and delivered God's word.

"We were thirsty to hear Mgr Grech's voice, a voice of love, and that of a friend," Scicluna said.

He said that in Mgr Grech's long life, God entrusted him with hundreds of people, and sent them to a man who is wise, and made them see God's light and love.

Generations of seminary students also met the beloved priest and were witness to his discipline and love, the archbishop said.

Mgr Scicluna said that hundreds of youths would look for Mgr Grech for advice, and he would always listen with his heart, and offer words of calm and serenity, and advice which illuminated people's minds, and support where needed.

"He had the courage to indicate the country's plagues, most specially those of addiction and dependence, and not only mark them, but also cure them. It is easy to say that there is an injury, it is more difficult to roll up one's sleeve and take action," Mgr Scicluna said.

Mgr Scicluna said that while today, the country pays tribute to a "true patriot, a true Maltese," he thanked all those who helped Mgr Grech with his dreams and initiatives, so that his wish to be the healer, and not the cause of the injury, becomes reality.

He said that Mgr Grech, in his death, has told us that there is a place ready for us, but like he did, everyone must prepare for it, by being good-hearted people, by forgiving and understanding each other, and work towards more unity in the country.

"Today, Mgr Grech prays upon for the blessing of wisdom, health, unity and peace upon us. He was a prophet when in every person he met, he saw God's image in them," Scicluna said.

Mgr Scicluna said Mgr Grech had the courage to teach people that in life, there is always hope and opportunity to rise from the abyss and start a new life.

"Do not let the trash culture bother you. Understand and believe in your dignity, break free from addition and do not let the seduction from the dominant culture lead to addition, whether it is drugs, money, prostitution," Mgr Scicluna said, adding that money made from all this is "cursed."

He said Mgr Grech gave people plagued with life problems words of courage and a way towards freedom. Scicluna said Mgr Grech had a calm, but strong voice, like a surgeon who knows where the injury is, and knows the necessary treatment.

"Today we gather together to solemnly promise Mgr Grech that we will continue and strengthen all the work he has done among us, and live by his word," Scicluna said.

The funeral cortege left from San Blas Therapuetic Centre, where Mgr Grech carried out work with drug users. It then went to the Tal-Ibrag parish, where Mgr Grech resided and served for many years. Here parishioners lined up the street next to the church, with a huge banner "Grazzi Dun Victor" affixed to the side of the parvis.

The cortege then proceeded to St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, where the Mass was held.

A private burial ceremony followed.

Born in Cospicua in 1929, Mgr Grech was ordained a priest in 1956 and served as vice-rector and rector of the Archbishop's Seminary.

He was also director of vocations and was awarded a British Council visitorship to the UK.

In 1977, he was appointed as the Archbishop's delegate for social work, and later became Caritas Malta director and introduced professional social services in Church institutions, within which he founded a community of volunteers to support them.

In 1984 Grech founded the Caritas Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Programmes to offer rehabilitation to people dependent on drugs at a time when public awareness was still limited. In 1985 he founded the first therapeutic community for drug abusers, becoming founder-chariman of the Caritas Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Drugs Users and director of its centre.

In 1993, he was nominated member of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta. He was a member of the permanent commission of Caritas Europe and of the World Federation of Therapeutic  Communities.

He was appointed chaplain to Pope Paul VI in 1968, and in 1981 honorary prelate to Pope John Paul II in 1981. In 1991 he was installed canon of the Cathedral Chapter.

Grech was for years a radio personality, conducting weekly programmes on family issues. In 1992 he started to,produce weekly slots on Radju Malta and RTK abour family and social issues.

He was widely regarded as a preacher of Lenten talks and was also a popular counsellor.

He published two books on youth problems and released cassettes with his Lenten talks.