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The country this afternoon paid its last respects to Fr Peter in a funeral at St Paul's Church in Valletta.
The final tributes to the 75-year-old theologian who died last Friday started in the morning when university staff and students, led by rector Juanito Camilleri lined the ring road and clapped, some throwing yellow carnations as the cortege, which left Mater Dei Hospital at 9.30 a.m. for the University campus passed from in front of them.
Fr Peter was a former university rector.
The cortege then stopped in front in the chapel where a prayer was said for the repose of his soul.
It then proceeded to the Jesuits church in Valletta where Fr Peter lay in state until 1.30 p.m. when the cortege made its way to St Paul's parish church for the funeral Mass, led by Mgr Anton Gouder.
The congregation, which packed the church, was led by President and Mrs George Abela and included Presidents Emeriti Eddie Fenech Adami and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, as well as Mrs Violet de Marco, President Emeritus Guido de Marco's widow.
In his homily, Fr Mark Montello, who is known to work on the opposite side of Fr Peter’s political sphere, described Fr Peter as “a man of endless optimism”.
“His wasn’t an artificial optimism, or absurd, or irrational, and neither cruel. It wasn’t an optimism of empty words or nonsense, or of a simple mind always daydreaming. It was an optimism that took up the challenges of reality; that allowed reality to inspire him to be creative.
“His optimism used to talk as soon as others became speechless; it used to think when ideas came to an end in other people; it used to explore and investigate and probe as soon as other people’s roads became alleys and their flickering light vanished.
“In the smallest new idea he would see an encouraging theme; in the smallest original initiative he would become committed to support it; in every feature of an eager face he would see a whole school of learning; in the slightest utterance of fascination he would become a stream of fresh thoughts.”
Fr Montebello said that Fr Peter’s optimism fertilised economics, art, education, literature, music, religion, technology, liturgy, architecture, theatre, industry, theology, archaeology, politics, sacred art, culture, poetry, governmental administration, legislation, philosophy, and other areas.
“With his optimism, for the honour of our country, he impregnated even the international community: about the protection of future generations, about the common heritage of humanity, about the law of the sea, about the environment, and about the future of Europe.
“But above all, his optimism penetrated the hundreds, if not thousands, of students whom he taught: not only in Malta and Gozo, but also in many other countries around the entire world.”
Fr Montebello explained how, in the story of Lazarus, Jesus mocked death, something he did for a second time through his own resurrection.
As Fr Peter used to say, he said, “Jesus turns death into a joke”.
“Even now, although he seems to be defeated by death, Fr Peter continues to sneer at it and says: I’ll have the last laugh!”
After Mass, the cortege will move on to the All Souls Church in Tarxien where a musical tribute will be paid. There will also be addressed by childhood friend Richard England, Prof. Salvino Busuttil and his older brother Carm. Burial will follow at 5.10 p.m.
Fr Peter had been in hospital since January after he was diagnosed with CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease), a rare degenerative brain ailment.
Fr Peter had also played a political role, particularly when he was personal adviser and consultant to Dr Fenech Adami in the 1980s, when the latter was prime minister.
He spent his last years at Id-Dar tal-Kleru in Birkirkara.