Malta today paid its last respects to Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, who passed away last Monday.
Archbishop Charles J Scicluna led a concelebrated Mass in the presence of President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo who is representing the Prime Minister (Joseph Muscat is away on holiday with his family) and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil.
The sermon began at 4 at St John's Cathedral and was followed by a cortege in Republic Street and a private burial ceremony in Mdina.
The strong winds did not encourage people to turn up in Valletta to attend the ceremony in St John's Square, and those who were bold enough scattered away as soon as rain started to pour soon after the start of the funeral mass.
Mgr Mercieca led the church in Malta between 1976 and 2006, and passed away last Monday. The government had declared three days of national mourning, with flags being flown at half mast.
Present for the Mass were also Speaker Angelo Farrugia, several ministers, MPs from both sides of the House, and former presidents Eddie Fenech Adami, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and George Abela.
During homily, Archbshop Charles Scicluna said Mgr Mercieca was “a father to everyone, without exception.”
The Archbishop said the church readings this week speak of a servant of God who is willing to lay down his life, even when faced with persecution and death, because he had faith in the Lord.
“Joseph Mercieca opened his heart and his soul to the Lord as he was being brought up in Gozo. He found his faith thanks to his parents, the Rabat parish, the seminary, his brother priests and the Capranica in Rome. He was a determined person, yet before god he showed exemplary docility.”
Mgr Scicluna said the lesson the Lord was giving us through the former Archbishop was to open our eyes and not be hard headed. “He showed great courage when he needed to do so, even before violence and persecution. Let us also not forget his happiness, his smile, when he welcomed Pope John Paul II in this very cathedral in 1990, during that sweet spring that gave new life to the Church, the freedom that it so needed.”
He described Joseph Mercieca as a “defender of liberty” who had never given in to the temptation of violence or incitement. He was a father to everyone, without exception.
The Archbishop said he was one of 326 priests who had been ordained by Mgr Mercieca. He thanked him for the paternal spirituality and patience he had shown them. “He always told us that Our Ladya will help us. We have lost a father, our spiritual father.”
Mgr Mercieca was the “jewel and glory” of Gozo, the Archbishop said. “He was not an extraordinary orator but his word was essential. What attracted people to him was his love for everyone, especially for the sick and weak.”
Photos Jonathan Borg and Michael Camilleri
Video by Jonathan Borg