A final farewell
Malta yesterday bade a final farewell to Maltese literary giant Oliver Friggieri in a state-organised funeral.
Friggieri passed away last Saturday and his funeral was organised by the state in recognition of his contribution to Maltese society.
The funeral took place at St. John’s Co-Cathedral and was concelebrated by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.
The cortege had first left Mater Dei Hospital and stopped at the University of Malta for a brief ceremony of remembrance, where some of Friggieri’s poetry was read out to onlookers. The Rector of the University, Professor Alfred Vella, together with other lecturers, university workers and students gathered in a parking lot of the University to pay tribute.
The cortege then drove past Friggieri’s home in Birkirkara before also stopping outside the Floriana parish church; Floriana being Friggieri’s place of birth. Flowers were laid by the Mayor of Floriana Davinia Sammut Hili and the Archpriest Fr Charles Cini.
A total of 130 people were invited to the funeral mass and among these 130, many important figures were present, including: President George Vella and his wife Miriam, Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife, Lydia Abela, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech and his wife Annemarie Grech, a number of government Ministers, Former Prime Ministers Joseph Muscat and Laurence Gonzi, Former President George Abela, as well as Immanuel Mifsud.
The funeral was restricted to a small number of people due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
During his homily, Archbishop Charles Scicluna spoke highly of Oliver Friggieri. He read out words from his book, which included a collection of Friggieri’s poems.
Scicluna described Friggieri as a person who spoke to the public with truth and honesty, but always with clarity.
“Friggieri described himself as a moderate human being, as he was one who appreciated both the light and darkness in life. Friggieri was a person who spoke clearly but never caused any damage or harm.”
Scicluna highlighted that the Church in Malta will be forever grateful for Friggieri’s patriotism and contributions when it came to the religious hymns that are sung during Church regularly.
“Friggieri was a person who knew that poetry, maturity and wisdom go through the sieve of suffering,” Scicluna said.
He added that Friggieri once wrote that when a poet dies, he leaves behind him a sack of feelings. “Today, as a nation and as Maltese citizens, part of this sack of feelings was left behind by his death as a poet.”