Paul Cremona

The Most Reverend
Pawl Cremona
O.P.
Archbishop Emeritus of Malta
Church Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese Malta
In office 2007-2014
Predecessor Joseph Mercieca
Successor Charles Scicluna
Orders
Ordination 22 March 1969
Consecration 26 January 2007
by Joseph Mercieca
Personal details
Born (1946-01-25) 25 January 1946
Valletta
Nationality Maltese
Previous post Parish priest, Sliema
Alma mater Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Motto Ħejju T-Triq Għall-Mulej
Coat of arms

Paul Cremona, O.P. (born 1 January 1946), is the Archbishop Emeritus of Malta and a Dominican friar. In Maltese, his full name and style is Pawl Cremona. He was consecrated as a member of the episcopate and enthroned as Archbishop of Malta on 26 January 2007, the day after his 61st birthday. He resigned as archbishop on 18 October 2014.

Family life

Mgr. Cremona arriving in Valletta as new Archbishop of Malta

Cremona was born in Valletta on 25 January 1946 to Joseph and Josephine (née Cauchi). He has two siblings: an elder brother and a younger sister. Cremona was educated at the Montesseori School in Valletta and at the Lyceum in Ħamrun.[1]

Religious life and priesthood

In September 1962 Cremona joined the Dominican Order, and was professed on 29 September 1963. He studied philosophy and theology at the College of St Thomas Aquinas located at the Dominican priory at Rabat. Cremona was ordained as priest on 22 March 1969.

After his ordination, Cremona was sent to Rome for higher studies in Moral Theology. He is an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where in 1973 he obtained a doctorate in sacred theology (STD) with a thesis entitled The Concept of Peace in Pope John XXIII.

Cremona was elected Prior of Our Lady of the Grotto, Rabat in 1974, a position he held twice from: 1974-1980 and 1997-2003. He was Dominican Prior Provincial of Malta from 1981 to 1989.

In 1989 Cremona was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Gwardamanġa, Pietà, where he served until 1993; he then became responsible for the formation of Dominican novices and students at Rabat, an office he again held between 2004 and 2005. In 2005, Cremona become parish priest of Jesus of Nazareth in Sliema.

Cremona held other offices in the Archdiocese of Malta, including Archbishop's Delegate for Consecrated Life, assistant spiritual director at the Seminary at Tal-Virtù, Rabat, member of the Presbyterial Council, and president of the Council of Maltese Religious Major Superiors (KSMR). In 2007 as archbishop, Cremona was appointed Grand Prior (for Malta) of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem with the rank of Knight Grand Officer.

As Archbishop of Malta, Cremona was a popular preacher for Lenten sermons and is an author in theology and spirituality, including writings on the Creed and the Commandments. He also wrote some works with Patri George Frendo, later Auxiliary Bishop of Tirana-D'urrús in Albania.

Mgr. Cremona in Bologna, at Basilica of San Domenico, 3 July 2007

Episcopal consecration

Cremona was announced as the eleventh Archbishop of Malta on 2 December 2006. His consecration took place on 26 January at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Valletta. The Mass with the rites of consecration was led by the retiring Archbishop of Malta, Joseph Mercieca, who was the principal consecrator, assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Felix del Blanco Prieto, and Bishop George Frendo.

When the nomination of Cremona was made public on 2 December 2006, Priete announced to journalists and the Presbyterian council meeting at the Curia in Floriana: "Pope John Paul II was received in Malta with unforgettable enthusiasm as 'the second [Saint] Paul'. Today as per mandate of Pope Benedict XVI the diocese is being entrusted to another Paul."

Cremona invoked Bishop Saint Augustine: "For you I am a Bishop but with you I am a Christian."

Resignation

On 17 October 2014, the media revealed that Cremona had submitted his resignation as Archbishop of Malta to the Vatican. His resignation was approved by the Vatican on the same day.[2] His resignation came about after members of the Episcopal Curia said that the archdiocese lacked leadership. In August 2014, Cremona was asked whether he would resign. He replied by saying, "I hold this position in obedience to the Pope's wishes and will only leave in obedience."[3][4] On 18 October, Cremona claimed that he started thinking of resigning two years prior, due to exhaustion. Cremona was the first bishop of Malta to resign prior to the retirement age since the 19th-century. Charles Scicluna was appointed Apostolic Administrator during the sede vacant; he was subsequently appointed the next Archbishop of Malta by Pope Francis on 27 February 2015.[5] He was installed as Metropolitan Archbishop on 21 March 2015 in St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina.

References

  1. ↑ Bonnici, Eman (25 January 2007). "Archbishop Elect of Malta". di-ve. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  2. ↑ "Vatican press office tells The Malta Independent resignation of Archbishop still to be accepted", The Malta Independent, Malta, 17 October 2014. Retrieved on 17 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Vella, Matthew. "Maltese archbishop Paul Cremona asks Vatican to resign", Malta Today, Malta, 17 October 2014. Retrieved on 17 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Grech, Herman. "Archbishop expected to step down", The Times of Malta, Malta, 17 October 2014. Retrieved on 17 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Rinunce e nomine, 27.02.2015", Holy See Press Office
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Joseph Mercieca		 Archbishop of Malta
2007–2014		 Succeeded by
Charles Scicluna
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