Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona died on Tuesday night, aged 79, the Maltese Church said.
He was taken to hospital a few hours earlier, a week after he had been discharged.
He died later in the evening, and his death was announced on X (formerly Twitter) by Archbishop Mgr Charles Scicluna.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, the Archdiocese said that Archbishop Cremona passed away at 11:55pm on Tuesday, 18 March, at Mater Dei Hospital.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna, on behalf of the Church in Malta, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the beloved Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona and said that the Church entrusts "such a faithful and loving pastor to the mercy of the Good Shepherd."
“The news of the death of Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to a good shepherd, a humble and wise man who gave his life for our people, as the Archbishop of Malta,” the Archbishop said.
“He was a man close to our people. In him, our people saw a friendly face, a shepherd who gave his life to the flock. May he rest in peace.”
Prime Minister Robert Abela, expressing his condolences, said that he had reached out to Archbishop Scicluna and it had been agreed that the funeral for Mgr Cremona will be organised jointly by the State and the Church.
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia expressed sentiments of deep sorrow at the passing of former Archbishop Paul Cremona, which was announced this morning. His lifelong dedication to faith, charity, and the Maltese community will leave an indelible legacy, the Speaker said.
Opposition Leader Bernard Grech also expressed his sorrow, as did European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
On the day he was appointed Archbishop, Mgr Cremona had said he was filled with awe at God's grace and infinite love. He called for continuous prayer and appealed to those who do not usually pray together to do so, particularly on this night, so that the Holy Spirit will fall on each and every Catholic in Malta, in a way that may help the new Archbishop to deliver God's will.
Mgr Cremona served as bishop between 2007 and 2014, when he retired, aged 68, three years after a referendum led to changes to civil law allowing divorce to be introduced in Malta.
He later admitted that the referendum had been a most trying period for the Church, saying the Maltese Archdiocese had "put much effort in the campaign, but we all know the results".
Cremona together with Apostolic Nuncio Aldo Cavalli and then Bishop Charles Scicluna, had addressed a press conference at the Curia during which Cremona's resignation was made official on 18 October 2014.
The Apostolic Nuncio had confirmed that Pope Francis had accepted Cremona's resignation.
In his message to Cremona, the pontiff had thanked him for his work, pointing out Cremona's "spiritual closeness to the people" and expressed appreciation for his "humanity".
Archbishop Emeritus Cremona had confirmed that he resigned for health reasons. He said the "first inkling" that it was time to step down was two years before when he succumbed to exhaustion.
"I am at peace with God for taking the right decision. It was an honour to lead the Church for almost eight years. I thank God for the good I may have done, I thank him for sending people to help me. I have no rancour for anyone in my heart. I am at the service of my successor," he had said at the time.
"I tried my best to fulfil my obligations but many times it was an effort. I am sure that my successor will do all he can for the church in Malta," he said. He said questions about his leadership by the media might have "accelerated" the resignation process.
"I took the office under instruction from the Pope directly. I love being with people and I tried my best," he had said.
During his time as head of the Church in Malta, Archbishop Cremona had made it a point to visit as many parishes as possible, his aim being to take the Church closer to the people.
Monsignor Paul Cremona O.P., S.Th.D., was born in Valletta on 25 January 1946 to Joseph and Josephine nee' Cauchi.
He completed his primary education at the Montessori school in Valletta, and then pursued the secondary level at the Lyceum in Hamrun.
In September 1962, he joined the Dominican Order, and professed on 29 September 1963.
He studied philosophy and theology at the College of St Thomas Aquinas at the Dominican priory at Rabat, and was ordained priest on the 22 March 1969. After his priestly ordination, Mgr Cremona was sent to follow higher studies in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum) where, in 1973, he graduated Doctor in Theology presenting the thesis The Concept of Peace in Pope John XXIII. Between the years 1974 and 1980, he was prior at the priory of Our Lady of the Grotto at Rabat.
He was re-elected to the same office in 1997 and again served two terms up to 2003. In 1981, he was chosen Provincial of the Maltese Dominican Province,an office he held for two four-year terms. On termination of office, he was entrusted with the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in Gwardamanga as its Parish Priest.
Between the years 1993 and 1997, he was responsible for the formation of the Dominican novices and students at Rabat; an office he again held for a short period of one year between 2004 and 2005. In 2005, Mgr Cremona was chosen as Parish Priest of the parish of Jesus of Nazareth in Sliema.
His nomination was made public on 2 December 2006 and he was ordained Bishop on 26 January 2007.
On 17 October 2014, Cremona submitted his resignation as Archbishop of Malta and Pope Francis approved it the same day. He said the next day that he had thought of resigning two years earlier, due to exhaustion. Cremona was the first bishop of Malta to resign prior to retirement age since the 19th-century. Charles Scicluna was appointed Apostolic Administrator and later Archbishop of Malta by Pope Francis on 27 February 2015.
During his priestly life, Archbishop Cremona also served the Archdiocese as the Archbishop's Delegate for Consecrated Life, Assistant Spiritual Director at the Seminary at Tal-Virtu', and as a member of the Presbyterial Council. He was also President of the Council of Maltese Religious Major Superiors (KSMR).
He is the author of a good number of books dealing with theology and spirituality, including his thesis, "The Concept of Peace in Pope John XXIII'', "The Church, Icon of the Holy Trinity'', and writings on the Creed and the Commandments as well as four books he wrote jointly with Fr George Frendo, OP, Archbishop Emeritus of Tirana-Durres, Albania.
Archibishop Cremona with other priests celebrating 50 years of the priesthood - Photo Curia
Archbishop Cremona with Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi - Photo Curia
