Cardinal Prosper Grech:'in te Domini speravi'

At eighty six years of age Augustinian Father Prosper Grech was created cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday 18th of February in an 'ordinary public consistory'. Thus becoming the first Maltese to be created cardinal in 168 years.

Prior to being ordained to the priesthood in 1950, while Malta was under siege during the Second World War, this Augustinian served his nation as a gunner in the Royal Malta Artillery.

But his field of valour lies within the walls of the world of Accademia. A famed biblical scholar, he's currently lecturer emeritus at various universities in Rome as well as Consultor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

However as Veronica Scarisbrick discovered when she went to call on him , in the course of a lifetime spent in Rome he also enjoyed first hand experience of the inside workings of the Vatican. It was in the early 1960's during the pontificates of first John XXIII and then Paul VI.

As our cardinal from Malta shares with Veronica his memories surrounding those years, he confides among other things as to what it was like living in a 'golden cage' in the heart of the Vatican with duties that included dressing these Popes for liturgical functions. Adding one striking memory connected to his presence in the Sistine Chapel at conclave time , such as personally being asked to hear Giovanni Battista Montini's confession a couple of hours prior to his election to the papacy as Paul VI.

Also high on the agenda during those years, which happened to coincide with the Second Vatican Council, were his daily reports on this historical event as it unfolded, from our very own radio station. Exclusively in Maltese of course.

Following this stint within Vatican walls , upon returning to the Augustinian mother house just outside the City walls, he was asked to found an Institute which would specialise in Patristics. Thus stepping back once again into the academic world.

Clearly Veronica asked this spry cardinal to share with us his reaction upon hearing of this honour bestowed on him by Pope Benedict XVI, whom he knows well having worked with him in the years when they were both at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Receiving a reply couched in humour in which he describes himself as about to be 'painted red' with one regret: having to discard his scooter despite it too being 'painted red'.

As he himself puts it : "Well I was much better off before ....not that I am not thankful for this .. but let's let the first two or three four months pass. Then when the dust settles I can see what I am in for ..."

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