Dominican Mgr Paul Cremona, who has just turned 61, was consecrated Malta 's new Archbishop at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta , on Friday evening.

In his sermon, he thanked God for the gift of Mgr Guzeppi Mercieca who has served as spiritual shepherd for Malta for the past 30 years. The new Archbishop humbly asked the faithful to continue praying for him and thanked everyone for their help at present and in the future during his episcopate.

Mgr Cremona said that he wishes to adopt some of Pope John Paul XXII’s vows during his Episcopal consecration in 1925. He said: “I didn’t look for or ask for this appointment, God has chosen me. It is Him who will be seeing to my shortcomings and to fill in my limitations. I feel and I know that I have no strength and ability, another reason to remain humble, very very humble. I want to belong totally to God, fill with His light and the love for Him and for human souls”.

Mgr Cremona added to say that: “I hope in God that my episcopate will be one of reconciliation in words and facts and that my words and sermons will not be in the persuasion of human words and intelligence but a demonstration of the spirit and strength; an authority handed to me by the Church, and will never be used for my glory – it will be used to build and not to shatter”.

In his speech, the former Archbishop Mgr Guzeppi Mercieca described this moment as a grace, a moment for which we should all wholeheartedly thank God. He also thanked Pope Benedict XVI for giving the Maltese Archdiocese Mgr Cremona as our spiritual shepherd.

He also thanked all those who joined in prayer and all those who are following this event on the media. He augured the new archbishop and said he will be in everyone prayers. He added that the motto chosen by Mgr Cremona “Hejju t-Triq ghall-Mulej” (Prepare the way to God) shows his commitment towards the Maltese and Gozitans to help us prepare ourselves to meet God in our lives.