On Wednesday 8 January Cardinal Grech’s corpse arrived in Malta. The funeral cortege started at 4.30 to Birgu where he was born and baptised. This was followed by prayers in the Collegiate Church of St. Lawrence. At 6 p.m. the cortege left Birgu and made its way to the Augustinian St Mark convent, Rabat.

The following morning, Thursday 9 January, between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, Cardinal Grech’s corpse remained in the convent’s chapel which remained open for the public to pay their final respect. At 1.40 p.m., the coffin was taken to St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina and at 2 p.m. a Mass praestente cadavere was celebrated for the repose of the Cardinal’s soul. This was presided by H.E. Archbishop Charles J Scicluna together with Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, Apostolic Nuncio for Malta; Bishop Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator of the Gozo Diocese; Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi and Bishop Pawlu Darmanin, Emeritus Bishop of Garissa, Kenya.

The Augustinian Order was represented by Vicar General, Fr. Joseph Farrell together with Assistant General Fr. Edward Daleng. Prior Provincial Fr. Leslie Gatt, together with a number of other religious from the Province, represented the Malta Augustinian Province.

The congregation was led by the President of Malta, H.E. Dr George Vella. After the funeral Mass there was a private burial.