The funeral of Cardinal Prospero Gech on Thursday 2 January, 2020, was attended by the Bishops of Malta, Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna and Mgr. Mario Grech. Mgr. Scicluna was near the hearse when it arrived on Santa Marta Square in the Vatican City. The Archbishop blessed the coffin and accompanied the procession, which was led by the Dean of the Chapter of St Peter, together with the Maltese altar boys and the choir of the Cappella Giulia.
The procession began from Santa Marta Square, passed through Porta della Preghiera of St Peter’s Basilica under Pope Alexander VII’s monument and stopped in front of the altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Dean blessed the coffin then it proceeded to the altar of the Cathedra of St Peter.
Requiem prayers were offered for the repose of Cardinal Grech’s soul. Among the congregation there were the parents of the Maltese altar boys, who offered their liturgical services daily in St Peter’s Basilica in the previous weeks of the Christmas festivities.
After the procession went back to the sacristy. Holy Mass followed, presided over by Cardinal John Baptist Re. The concelebrants included the Bishops of Malta, religious and diocesan priests and Maltese sisters of different religious congregations.
Mgr. Francis Bonnici from Rome