Malta yesterday bid farewell to its first President, Sir Anthony Mamo, who died at the venerable age of 99 on Thursday morning.
Sir Anthony served as Attorney General, Chief Justice and Governor-General before being sworn in as President, holding the office until 1976.
He was the world's oldest living former Head of State.
Hundreds of people yesterday morning walked past Sir Anthony's body as it lay in state at the entrance to the President's Palace, in Valletta. Most of them were tourists.
Republic Street was particularly busy with the arrival of six cruise liners at Grand Harbour.
President Eddie Fenech Adami, President Emeritus Guido de Marco, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and a Labour Party delegation led by Acting Leader Charles Mangion were among those who paid their last respects to Sir Anthony as his body lay in state at the entrance of his former workplace.
Shortly after 1.30 p.m., Sir Anthony's coffin, draped in the Maltese flag, was transported on a gun carriage from the Palace to the nearby St John's Co-Cathedral, where Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Paul Cremona along with, among others, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca, Bishop Annetto Depasquale and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Tommaso Caputo.
An Armed Forces of Malta contingent and the AFM band, together with members of the Cathedral Chapter, led the funeral cortege to the Co-Cathedral. The coffin was carried into the church by six soldiers as people lined the streets. Four soldiers, rifles reversed and heads bowed, stood at the corners of the coffin at the foot of the altar during the Mass.
The congregation included President and Mrs Fenech Adami, the Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaeatano, Speaker Anton Tabone, the MLP acting leader Charles Mangion, ministers and parliamentary secretaries, Attorney General Silvio Camilleri, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Prof. de Marco and President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, members of the judiciary, MPs and government officials.
Police Commissioner John Rizzo and AFM Commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, representatives of unions and constituted bodies were also present.
Mgr Cremona praised Sir Anthony for the Christian manner in which he made his decisions, led his life and built his family. The late President was always aware of the presence of God and was guided by faith in Him.
"We are gathered here today to thank God for Sir Anthony and for all the virtues He gave him which he then used in the best interests of his country, his family and Maltese society," Mgr Cremona said. He praised Sir Anthony for his honesty, integrity and strong Christian values.
Sir Anthony's son, John, read the first reading and his granddaughter read the bidding prayers in which she said her "nannu" went to meet "nanna Maggie".
Sir Anthony's three children - Josephine, Monica and John - carried the offerings.
After Mass, the coffin was carried out of the co-Cathedral to the sombre toll of the bells and the funeral cortege continued up a crowded Republic Street as flags flew at half-mast.
The coffin, again carried on the gun carriage, was escorted by six army majors, preceded by a 100-strong AFM guard as the AFM band played funeral marches. At City Gate, the coffin was transferred to a hearse and transported to Casa Arkati, where Sir Anthony has been resident for some time. The burial will take place today at the Addolorata Cemetery following a service at the St Helen's Basilica in Birkirkara, Sir Anthony's hometown.
Gozo bishop Mario Grech, currently on a pastoral visit in Canada, yesterday expressed his condolences to Sir Anthony Mamo's family and friends. He said in a statement he felt spiritually united with the Church in Malta and Gozo which had paid tribute to Sir Anthony, who had served the country with integrity and generosity.
The bishop said he offered his prayers for Sir Anthony to rest in peace.