Malta's new Archbishop, Mgr Paul Cremona, said yesterday he faced his "great mission" with fear but was confident that God would see him through.

In a consecration Mass that lasted more than three hours at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, 61-year-old Mgr Cremona officially took possession of the title he was nominated for two months ago.

But if this was supposed to be a solemn ceremony, somebody forgot to read the script; as hugs, handshakes and spontaneous outbursts of applause mirrored the feeling of overwhelming joy that greeted him as he entered the capital.

Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca, the lead consecrating bishop - along with Apostolic Nuncio Mgr Felix de Blanco Prieto and long-time friend Bishop Mgr George Frendo - had already passed a poignant impromptu remark about how unusual it was for an Archbishop's parents to be present for his consecration. Mgr Cremona's mother drove the point home when only reluctantly she let her son walk back to the altar after his family had presented the offerings.

His parents' involvement continued right till the end when, in a moving moment, Mgr Cremona lifted his father out of a wheelchair so they could stand side by side for a photo; clutching the crosier he had just made nine solemn promises to obtain in one hand, and 91-year-old Joseph even more tightly in the other.

But during a short speech towards the end of the ceremony Mgr Cremona made it clear he was reaching out to a much wider family - all the Maltese.

And he did it yesterday by borrowing a few things from Pope John XIII; first a tunic and then a few words: "I didn't look for or wish for this ministry; the Lord chose me... it is up to him to make good for my shortcomings and my limitations... I feel I lack strength and am not capable, which is another reason to remain humble; very, very humble. I want to dedicate my whole self totally to God, filled with his light, and his love for human souls... God willing my ministry will be one of reconciliation in words and deeds".

But he had a message of his own too: "We profess we believe there's God's image in every person... We need to continue to profess that this image is equally present in each man and woman; in those that are estranged from God and perhaps seem like they are getting in the way of the Church's work; those whose beliefs are different to ours; those whose skin colour and nationality is not the same and yet perhaps find themselves living among us because they had to escape from their home country; babies that are in their mothers' wombs, the elderly who are sick and perhaps abandoned... We need to see God in everyone, whoever he may be".

Mgr Cremona also had words of praise for Mgr Mercieca, whom he described as a close collaborator, and received some timely advice from the man that occupied the hot seat for more than 30 years: "Without doubt, you need a lot of courage to take on the ministry of a diocesan bishop today. Among other things, this life demands a lot of sacrifices and presents many difficulties. It can also tire you out, and you can feel alone and downhearted. But don't be afraid! God, who has called you to carry this responsibility, will always be with you."

A nation was with him too yesterday. From the 470 priests inside the church, to the 900 patiently seated outside the parvis, to the thousands watching at home on their television screens, as he went through the formalities of accepting the role.

The evening began with the reading out of an official proclamation by the Pope, followed by the formal interrogation by the lead consecrator, before the new Archbishop lay prostrate on a red carpet in front of the altar as a sign of his submissiveness before God. As the minutes wore on, each of the 11 bishops present laid their hands on his head and then, just a few minutes before 8 p.m., Mgr Mercieca anointed Mgr Cremona with the oil that officially made him the new Archbishop.

And it was then he received the tools to carry out the task - the ring, which symbolises the nuptial bond with the Church; the mitre, signifying his resolve to pursue holiness; and the pastoral staff or crosier, symbolising a shepherd's crook. He was then led to the bishop's seat of his cathedral church at which point the congregation inside the church stood to applaud, and he allowed himself a broad smile.

With Mgr Mercieca now standing aside, in more ways than one, Mgr Cremona continued the Mass himself after being relegated to a seat on the wings in the early stages. He walked up the aisle arm in arm with Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech when he delivered his first blessing to everyone in the church, and those opposite the parvis, as church bells peeled frantically outside.

And he made an appeal to his new flock: "I urge each and every one of you to help me," he said, "through your prayers and through your work."