Malta lunched safe in the knowledge that it could now count a Prince of the Catholic Church among its citizens, as Augustinian Prospero Grech was appointed to the rank of Cardinal in a ceremony held at St Peter's Basilica.
Cardinal Prospero was one of 22 men who joined the college of cardinals.
The ceremony and its full Vatican splendour lasted approximately two hours and saw each new Cardinal receive his red skull cap (zucchetto), square cap (biretta) and ring from Pope Benedict XVI.
The Birgu-born Cardinal spent longer than most speaking with the Pope, with both men smiling broadly following a brief embrace. Both men have known one another for several years, with Cardinal (then Father) Prospero having worked with the Pope, at the time Cardinal Ratzinger, when the latter was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In the immediate aftermath of the ceremony, Cardinal Prospero did his utmost to downplay the occasion, saying that it was likely that the Maltese people were more delighted than he was at his appointment.
He called on the Maltese to not let the officious rank of Cardinal distract them from their true faith. "The most beautiful thing we have in Malta is the faith given to us by St Paul. Keep hold of that, Cardinal or no Cardinal," he told timesofmalta.com .
Over 150 Maltese made the trip to Rome to be part of the ceremony and share in the Cardinal's joy, and cameras flashed like strobe bulbs anywhere within his vicinity.
Archbishop Paul Cremona spoke of his delight at the appointment, saying that each of the appointed Cardinals had toiled long and hard to reach this point. He also pointed out that although Cardinal Prospero was never in the limelight, he was held in extremely high regard within theological circles.
Both the President of Malta, George Abela, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said that the event honoured both Cardinal Prospero personally, as well as the Maltese people and their faith.
President Abela also augured that Malta's second-ever Cardinal would pave the way for others to follow, "perhaps next time even one with a vote."
Being over 80 years old, Cardinal Prospero will play no part in any eventual conclave to elect a new Pope.