An eclectic congregation of ordinary people, academics and dignitaries joined Fr Peter Serracino Inglott’s family yesterday to mourn the loss of a man “who would have the last laugh over death”.

People gathered early at the St Paul’s Shipwreck parish church in Valletta where the funeral Mass was held and the homily delivered by a fellow priest, philosopher and academic.

A packed church heard Fr Mark Montebello interpret the Gospel reading of Lazarus and his awakening from the dead as Christ’s way of having the last laugh over death – a symbol of Christian optimism of which Fr Peter had a lot.

Death seems to win but the Risen Christ cheats it of victory, he added. “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!’”

Fr Montebello explained that Christian optimism derived its strength from Jesus’s refusal to be fatalistic or drawn into a corner of despair. It is not artificial optimism that seeks to interpret bad things in a good light, ignoring the intrinsic evil that characterises certain situations.

It is not absurd or irrational optimism, Fr Montebello said, or one that cruelly gives false hope, but optimism that gives freedom.

“Fr Peter was a man of endless optimism... 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...”

They were words that moved the congregation as eyes glistened, faces smiled and heads nodded at the accolades Fr Montebello poured on the man, who inspired many others, including a generation of Nationalist Party politicians present yesterday to pay their last respects.

Former minister Louis Galea and President Emeriti Eddie Fenech Adami and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici stood there looking visibly emotional as they saluted for the last time the philosopher, priest and friend who guided the PN’s rebirth in the 1970s and later. Also present were the Archbishop and Bishop of Gozo.

Fr Montebello’s voice, unwavering till then, cracked when he thanked Fr Peter and recalled his colleague’s “beautiful eyes” and “charming smile”.

As the homily ended, the congregation burst out clapping – a gesture repeated when the coffin was carried out of the Church before its final journey to Tarxien where he was buried.

Fr Peter’s family, serene and stoic, listened in silence as nephews and nieces recalled the greatness of their “uncle Peter” during the bidding prayers.

President George Abela, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, members of Parliament and other dignitaries joined the family in mourning.

It was at the All Souls church in Tarxien, where Fr Peter used to celebrate Sunday Mass, that his brother Carm Serracino Inglott found some words to thank the people for attending the funeral.

With a voice broken by emotion, Mr Serracino Inglott told a congregation of close friends: “You are here because you loved Peter... and so love each other because I am sure that is what Peter would have said.”

The small ceremony in Tarxien was also followed by people from the neighbourhood who stood on their doorsteps as the funeral cortege passed by. For years Fr Peter lived in Tarxien with his mother, which he yesterday joined in eternity.

Architect Richard England, a very close friend, described Fr Peter as “unique” with “an outstanding personality” and “the most illustrious brain”.

“Part of me lies in that casket with Fr Peter,” he said, recalling how after every meeting with the man he always emerged “emotionally charged” and “mentally enriched”.

“He will live on not only in the intellectual heritage he has left us but also in the hearts of those who knew him,” Prof. England said.

In a short tribute, another friend, Salvino Busuttil amusingly recalled Fr Peter’s fondness for donkeys. “He had a girlfriend called Petra and she was my donkey.”

Prof. Busuttil reminisced on the day he had bought a donkey and it was Fr Peter who chose the name Petra – the female version of Peter.

Describing his priesthood as “unusually active and contemplative at the same time”, Prof. Busuttil said Fr Peter was always intrigued by the Biblical episode of the Transfiguration of Christ because it was the moment when Jesus was not reflecting his light but was light himself.

“Peter’s belief in the resurrection was the hallmark of his optimism,” Prof. Busuttil said.

Fr Peter, 75, had been in hospital since January after he was diagnosed with CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease), a rare degenerative brain ailment. He died on March 16.

Fr Peter in their words

“Death makes us finish his thinking by creating our thinking. Obviously our thinking is not Peter’s thinking, and Peter would be very sad if we repeat his words without writing or speaking our thoughts.”

– George Serracino Inglott, from Chile, writing in remembrance of his brother as he starts a new life.

“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!’”

– Fr Mark Montebello, a fellow priest, philosopher and academic, delivering the homily at the funeral Mass.

“Fr Peter was a man of endless optimism...”

– Fr Montebello in his homily.

“You are here because you loved Peter... and so love each other.”

– Carm Serracino Inglott, thanking friends gathered at a ceremony in Tarxien before Fr Peter was buried.

“The most illustrious brain.”

– Richard England, describing his close friend Fr Peter, at the start of the Tarxien memorial service.

“He had a girlfriend called Petra and she was my donkey.”

– Salvino Busuttil, a friend, recalling Fr Peter’s fondness for donkeys.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com