Dominican Mgr Paul Cremona, who turned 61 yesterday, will be consecrated Malta's new Archbishop at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, this evening.
The smiling priest who shot into the hearts of the faithful and, one dare say, even those who may no longer be, once again experienced the warmth of the people yesterday as he was driven in a Rolls Royce from Sliema to Mdina for a prayer vigil stopping in nine localities en route.
Perhaps the most nostalgic moment for the charismatic prelate came about when he visited Fatima parish, in Guardamangia, where he had served as parish priest for several years.
People in the localities he was driven through wished him a happy birthday and in Guardamangia a group of people also displayed a banner with the same message. In Attard he was also presented with a birthday cake.
"He is a man of God and very approachable", one Guardamangia parishioner said.
When Mgr Cremona was presented with a gift by Pietà mayor Santo Attard, he removed the wrapping and took out the silver tray from the box to show it to the people in appreciation.
Mgr Cremona stood at the back of the open Rolls Royce as people ran up to the car to greet him and give him flowers.
"Thank you, thank you," he kept saying as he cautioned the people to be careful of the car's wheels.
The ride, which started from the Gesu Nazzarenu parish, in Sliema, where, since 2005, he served as parish priest, ended in Mdina where he attended a prayer vigil. Mgr Cremona's car was escorted by policemen on motorcycles.
Mgr Cremona's carcade passed through the parishes of Gzira, Ta' Xbiex, Msida, Guardamangia, the two parishes in Hamrun (Immaculate Conception and St Cajetan), Sta Venera, Fleur-de-Lys, Attard and Rabat.
On reaching Mdina he was met by the mayor, Peter Sant Manduca, at the gate.
At Cathedral Square, he was greeted with applause by the people waiting to follow the prayer vigil from under a purposely mounted tent outside the cathedral.
The Archbishop-elect blessed and waved to the crowd before entering the cathedral where he shook hands with and spoke to children all the way through the aisle to the altar. His smile never faded.
Half way up, Mgr Cremona was greeted by outgoing Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca who accompanied him on a personal prayer visit to a side chapel before the vigil started.
The vigil included several Bible readings by a number of people, including Bridgette Micallef, who read Braille, and Rim, a 10-year-old Sudanese girl.
Readings were followed by reflections by several priests.
During the vigil, Mgr Cremona took his oath of loyalty to the Church and made an expression of faith.
Mgr Mercieca blessed Mgr Cremona's insigna - his ring, mitre and crozier.
The vigil came to an end with a sacramental blessing and a message from Mgr Cremona.
He thanked the people for joining him in prayer and said that when the Apostolic Nuncio broke the news that he was the chosen one, his initial thought was about the work this would entail.
But the Lord showed him that more important than the work was the enormous grace of the fulfillment of the sacrament being bestowed on him.
Mgr Cremona said he was amazed at God's enormous love for the people and at choosing him to lead the faithful towards the fulfillment of their mission to spread the love of God.
Jesus, he said, had chosen Peter to lead the first Christian community. No one had expected Peter to be the chosen one but the Lord could see what the people could not.
He appealed to the congregation that packed the church to pray for him continuously.
"You, who have children at home, pray together for me this evening.
"If you are a married couple who do not usually pray together, pray for me tonight. And as you are praying, why pray just for me, pray to the Lord everyday," he said.
"As you pray for the Holy Spirit to descend unto me, also pray for it to come unto you so that together we will build the Church," Mgr Cremona said.
He was given a standing ovation.
Mgr Cremona then walked down the aisle greeting people and went out to meet and speak to those who were under the tent.