Body of former archbishop brought to Valletta to lie in state tonight and Friday
Church bells across the country to ring out at sunset
Updated 5.20pm
The body of late archbishop emeritus Mgr Paul Cremona was brought to St John's Co-Cathedral on Thursday afternoon to lie in state, where it will remain until Friday evening.
Cremona, who died late on Tuesday aged 79, served as Archbishop of Malta between 2007 and 2014.
The body of Mgr Cremona will lie in state between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, when people will also be able to sign the book of condolences.
The Church, together with the State, put together a funerary programme that got underway on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, all church bells in Malta pealed a solemn tune bidding farewell to the late archbishop emeritus.
The body will in state at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.The funeral corteo departed from Mater Dei Hospital at 3.45pm before heading to St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.
The corteo arrived in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic in Valletta at 4.10pm, where the Dominican congregation bid farewell to Mgr Cremona.
It then proceeded through Merchants Street, St Dominic Street, St George's Square and Republic Street until it reaches the St John and Republic Street crossroad.
The procession arrived at the co-cathedral at 4.45pm, where archbishop Charles Scicluna led vespers for the dead (Għasar tal-Mejtin) from 5pm.
Church bells across the island will be rung at sunset.
At 7.30pm, the Dominican congregation will recite the rosary at the oratory of the co-cathedral.
Friday
The body of Mgr Cremona will continue lying in state between 9am and 8.30pm on Friday.
Morning prayer (Tifħir ta’ Sbiħ il-Jum) will kick off at 8am at the Oratory of St John's co-cathedral.
Mass will follow at 8.30am.
Church bells will again be rung across the island between 12pm and 12.15pm, and during sunset.
In the evening - at 7.30pm - Mgr Scicluna will recite the rosary at the oratory of the co-cathedral.
Mgr Cremona will mostly be remembered for his smile. Photo: Archdiocese of MaltaSaturday
Flags on public and ecclesiastical buildings will be flown at half-mast throughout the day.
Mgr Scicluna will return to the co-cathedral at 8.45am. He will be followed by prime minister Robert Abela and Lydia Abela at 9.13am and President Myriam Spiteri Debono and Anthony Spiteri Debono at 9.15am.
The body of Mgr Cremona will make a solemn entrance at 9.20am, and mass præsente cadavere will then be led by Mgr Scicluna.
Following Mass, a funeral corteo will proceed from St John's Co-Cathedral through Republic Street to City Gate.
The body of Mgr Cremona will then be taken to the Church of St Dominic and The Blessed Virgin for burial. This part of the funeral programme will be closed to the public.
At noon, church bells across Malta will ring as Mgr Cremona is laid to rest.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Mgr Paul Cremona. Photo: Archdiocese of Malta