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WATCH | Malta bids farewell to Bishop Cauchi as hundreds pay homage in Gozo
Malta bade farewell to Gozo Bishop Emeritus Mgr. Nikol Cauchi who died last Monday at Mater Dei Hospital, aged 81.
16 November 2010, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
Filming: Marjo Parascandalo / MediaToday
Escorted by police motorcycle outriders, his coffin was driven in a cortege from Mater Dei Hospital to Marfa where it was loaded onto an AFM Patrol Craft and taken to Gozo.
Throughout the route, the hearse with Mgr. Cauchi’s coffin was stopped in front of a number of parishes, where bells rang in mourning, and clubs flew flags at half mast.
Accompanied by Gozo Bishop Mgr. Mario Grech and Bishop Emeritus of Malta Mgr. Joseph Mercieca, the coffin with the late Gozo Bishop was loaded onto the AFM Patrol Craft with its crew that formed a guard of honour.
Also with the late bishop on the patrol boat were his brother Maurice and Fr Renato Borg, Mgr Cauchi's pastoral secretary for 19 years.
On its arrival in Gozo, shortly before 2pm, Gozitan parish priests and seminarians gathered on the quay at Mgarr Harbour together with a number of Gozitans greeted the coffin with applause and prayer, while others lined the streets from Imgarr harbor to Gharb (Mgr. Cauchi’s hometown) where his coffin was carried through the streets amid applause and the firing of petards as a salute.
Villagers carried the coffin into the packed Gharb parish church amid applause while a choir sang.
The body is laying in state at the Bishop's Curia in Victoria until this afternoon.
The clergy gathered yesterday evening to recite the rosary. as hundreds payed their respects.
Bishop Mario Grech lead a vigil at 9 p.m. before a packed Cathederal.
The people have this morning started to file past the body of Mgr. Cauchi who will remain in state until 1pm.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
The cortège leaves the Curia for the Cathedral at 3 p.m. and concelebrated funeral Mass starts at 3.30 p.m. It will be led by Mgr Grech. President George Abela and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will lead the congregation.
The Mass will be followed by interment at the Cathedral.
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Why do orders have to be given in English. This is shameful, totally shameful, for our country. Disrespectful not only to the people of Malta but to the bishop who was, after all, a Maltese-Gozitan.
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With all due respect, the sailor-soldiers should have put on smarter dress once it was decided to use military transport. They should also have rehearsed the ceremony of transferring the coffin to the boat. Drill looks extremely poor and there was serious bungling. No one seemd to know where and when to place the iron supports for the coffin. The words of command were in rather poor English too. It looks more like something done by boyscout cubs than the drill of professional soldiers. We might have one or two state funerals in the not too distant future and one hopes the army will perform better and in better dress.
