Former university rector, philosopher and priest Fr Peter Serracino Inglott was yesterday laid to rest as Malta mourned the loss of its “most illustrious brain”.

Fr Serracino Inglott, 75, died last week after a three-month battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare degenerative brain ailment.

The funeral cortege left Mater Dei Hospital at 9.30 a.m. and passed through the university grounds where academics saluted the memory of a man credited with opening up the university’s doors to thousands of students.

Staff and students, led by Rector Juanito Camilleri, lined the ring road and clapped, some throwing yellow carnations, as the cortege stopped in front of the chapel where a prayer was said for the repose of his soul. The cortege then proceeded to the Jesuits church in Valletta where Fr Serracino Inglott’s body lay in state for some time.

The funeral Mass was later held at St Paul’s Shipwreck parish church in Valletta as people packed the church to listen to Fr Mark Montebello deliver a moving homily on how the last laugh belonged to Fr Serracino Inglott, even in death.

He was buried in Tarxien after close friends, Richard England and Salvino Busuttil, organised a brief musical tribute called Au Revoir (see you again) at the All Souls Church, where he used to celebrate Sunday Mass.

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