The funeral of Archbishop Emeritus Mgr Paul Cremona was held this morning in Valletta.

On Saturday morning, the Co-Cathedral was filled with citizens, members of the clergy as well as MPs from both sides of the House who attended to pay their respects for the late Archbishop Emeritus, who died last Tuesday, aged 79.

Among notable members in the crowd were Cremona’s family members, President Myriam Spiteri Debono, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech, as well as Cardinal Mario Grech, who prayed over Cremona’s casket ahead of the funeral.

Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife, and President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca were also in attendance.

The funeral mass was led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who succeeded Cremona after he resigned due to health reasons in 2014.

In his homily, Scicluna described Mgr Cremona as truly a person with a sweet and humble heart, which is the identity with which Jesus Christ identifies.

Scicluna said that God has prepared the table for Mgr Cremona to celebrate his funeral today, on the anniversary of when Mgr Cremona became a priest on 22 March, 1969.

When Mgr Cremona was ordained Archbishop of Malta in January of 2007, Cremona was filled with the joy of those who swim in peace.

Scicluna said that Mgr Cremona had discovered the public’s response towards his ordainment, which was that of immense and true love.

“We will remember him by his words which came from his heart: I loved you, and you loved me back,” Scicluna said of Cremona.

“It was easy to love Priest Paul, as he was love for each and every one of us, a beautiful meeting with a person who emptied himself and let God live within him,” Scicluna said.

He said that Mgr Cremona obeyed God in his invitation for the people to move more towards God, not for judgement, but for peace of mind.

Scicluna said that Mgr Cremona’s vocation was towards the Dominican Order, which became inseparable to who he was as an Archbishop. “He was a Catholic priest and bishop, but he was also a religious Dominican,” Scicluna said.

“From St Dominic, Cremona learnt to speak to and about God, and passed on what he read and meditated on to others with words and actions,” Scicluna said.

He described him as a “teacher,” but also a “witness” to God’s mercy and his love.

On the day of his ordinance in 2007, Scicluna said that Mgr Cremona had quoted the words of Pope St John XXIII, and had said that he had not sought or wished for his role as Archbishop, but rather God had chosen him.

Scicluna said Mgr Cremona, quoting St John, had said that he wished for himself to be totally dedicated to God, filled with his light and love towards people.

Mgr Cremona had said that he wanted his ministry to be one of reconciliation in words and actions, not with the words of humans, but that of God, and for his authority not to be for his own glory, and not to demolish, but to build.

“The words of St John became and were the programme of Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona we are witness to today, his promise to the public during his episcopal ordainment day. He lived it with fidelity,” Scicluna said.

Scicluna said Mgr Cremona reminds us of who we are. Cremona was not shy about his weaknesses, but rather it was strength, and God chose him as a tool to do great things, with humbleness and weakness.

“He was accessible for anyone who looked for him, he went wherever he was invited. His smile was for everyone, with his words and actions, as he served his role with reconciliation, forgiveness, healing and unity,” Scicluna said.

He said that Cremona’s remains will be cherished, but he is alive in the eternal life, having met with God as his defender, friend and loyal shepherd.

Scicluna said that while the people have gathered with a sense of faith and gratitude in accompanying Mgr Cremona in his journey after death, he encouraged each and every one present to help Cremona in praying for married couples and their children, for the youths who are seeking joy by serving God in their youth, for the sick, and for all members of the Church to be closer to this journey.

A message from the Dominican Order in Rome was also read out, where the order prayed for the eternal repose of Mgr Cremona, thanking God for the gift of the Dominican vocation and Cremona’s years of episcopal work.

A provincial of the Dominican Order in Malta thanked Mgr Cremona’s life and dedication, where he left his mark as a friar, a priest, as well as the Archbishop of Malta.

He said he had lived with Mgr Cremona when they were both students studying theology, and said that Cremona’s known character of humility and openness remained until his last moments of his life.

The provincial also thanked the Maltese and Gozitan public on behalf of Mgr Cremona, for the respect and love Cremona received.

“On his deathbed, St Dominic told his followers he would be more useful for them after death, than among the living. We can apply this to Mgr Cremona – be sure that he will continue to be useful and love the Maltese and Gozitan public from heaven,” he said.

He continued that just as St Dominic was loved by all because he loved all, Cremona also loved everyone, and that is why everyone loved him.

“What we received from him will always remain within us,” the provincial said, after which applause ensued from the attendees.

A message from Pope Francis was also read out, saying that he was saddened to hear of Mgr Cremona’s death, sending his heartfelt condolences to the clergy and the Maltese people.

It also thanked the mighty God for entrusting his soul to the most merciful, the good shepherd – Mgr Cremona, and imparted his blessings as a pledge of conciliation of peace.

At the end of the funeral, Archbishop Scicluna blessed Mgr Cremona’s casket, before it was carried out of the Cathedral. During the procession, the litany was sung, where attendees were asked to sing prayers for Mgr Cremona.

A crowd was also gathered outside of the Co-Cathedral to pay their last tributes to Mgr Cremona.

The ceremony then continued privately, with Mgr Cremona buried in Rabat.

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).