The funeral of Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona will be organised jointly by the State and the Church on Saturday, a government statement said Wednesday.

Mgr Cremona died late on Tuesday, aged 79.

In a statement, the government said that the funeral mass, preasente cadavere, will be held at St John's Co-Cathedral on Saturday at 9am.

The statement said Prime Minister Robert Abela had spoken to Archbishop Charles Scicluna and it had been agreed that the State and the Church organise the funeral together.

This was being done as a sign of gratitude to the "generous service" offered to society by Mgr Cremona during his life.

Mgr Cremona will be remembered for his humility and work in the community, not only in his pastoral work as head of the Church in Malta. During his time as bishop, he had welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to our shores.

Saturday will be a day of mourning in the country. More details will be published later.