On Friday Archbishop Paul Cremona will be among a number of new Metropolitan Archbishops who will be receiving the pallium from Pope Benedict XV1 during a Eucharistic celebration at the Vatican on the occasion of the Feast of St Peter and St Paul.

The pallium is the white circular band of finely woven wool about five centimetres wide, worn around the neck, having two pendants, one hanging down in front and the other behind. The pendants are approximately five centimetres wide and 30 centimetres long, and are weighed with small pieces of lead covered with black silk.

On the pallium are woven six small black crosses - one on the front and back, one on each shoulder, and one on each pendant. The crosses on the front, back and left shoulder are provided with two small loops to hold in place three pins - spinulae.

The pallium is worn by archbishops as a symbol of their hierarchical communion with the Successor of Peter in the governance of God's people. It is made of sheepswool as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the Good Shepherd who keeps vigilant watch over his beloved flock. This vestment reminds bishops, as vicars of Christ in their local Churches, that they are called to be shepherds after the Heart of Jesus.

On Sunday, the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (SMOM) invested Mgr Cremona at the Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta.

The investiture ceremony followed a procession and Mass celebrating the feast of the Order's patron saint, St John the Baptist.

Mgr Cremona was invested as Conventual Chaplain ad honorem by Alfred Caruana Galizia, president of the Maltese Association, as the delegate to the prince and Grand Master, Frà Andrew Bertie.