Flowing ecclesiastical robes, a soaring papal choir and an abundance of Latin left little room for doubt: yesterday’s cardinal consistory was a fully-blown ceremony designed to portray the Church in all its grandeur.

He was definitely what you’d call a cool priest

It was perhaps the sort of ceremony which Cardinal Prospero Grech would gladly do without. And as he hugged relatives and posed for photos with those he has baptised, married, counselled and cared for, it was easy to understand why.

Cardinal Prospero – Stanley to those close to him – is a man not given to airs and graces, his second cousin Bridget Craig said, tapping memories from her childhood.

“He would come to my school, Sacred Heart, and lead our retreats. He was very popular with the girls because he was so down to earth. He was definitely what you’d call a cool priest,” she said.

His intelligence was always evident, “but Stanley would never flaunt it”.

“I once came across a book of Maltese poems translated to English in which the author thanked ‘a brilliant young Maltese scholar named Stanley Grech’. I was astounded – he must have been 19 or 20 at the time,” she said.

It is a character trait which the newly-appointed cardinal has also adopted in his religious life.

“I was always humbled by the way in which he made an effort to greet us Maltese Augustinians whenever we came to Rome. His sermons were always to the point, with not a superfluous word,” Fr Paul Aquilina said.

Mrs Craig put it succinctly: “Stanley is a man who lives his Christianity, rather than preaches it.”

Cardinal Prospero has maintained strong ties with Malta, returning two to three times a year. He holds a special place in the hearts of Joe Ciappara and his wife Phyllis, who have been married for 51 years.

“Prospero married us all those years ago,” a beaming Mr Ciappara said. “And he did a good job too, because I think he used super glue to bond us together!”

Standing beside him, Mrs Ciappara smiled and reminisced. “I’ve known Prospero since we were children. I remember how, when he was in the army during the war, he’d wear his gas mask and run around frightening me.”

His induction into the College of Cardinals has been met with delight by many of Malta’s faithful. But those closest to him worry the honour may be a poisoned chalice.

According to Mrs Craig, “Stanley is an unassuming man who loves coming back to Malta and spending time with his family and friends, in peace and quiet. But now I think he’s worried he’ll no longer be able to do that”.

“Of course we’re thrilled for him, but I’d be lying if I said we weren’t also worried. How does he go back to normal life after this?”