It is my pleasure to join you this evening to mark the 60-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malta and the Holy See and celebrate the special relationship that exists between our two States.
Ours is a profound relationship, one that is built on the shared values of peace and human dignity, and deeply rooted in a common Catholic tradition. It has been strengthened over the years through the signing of several agreements and enhanced by various collaboration efforts. In this regard, I would like to highlight two initiatives that I feel are worthy of note:
The first is a collaboration agreement between the University of Malta and the Paediatric Hospital Bambino Gesu, through which 21 medical students from the University of Malta were given the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the paediatric sector.
The second is an initiative that reflects our cultural and educational ties, and which led to the placement of a Maltese student from MCAST at the Vatican’s Fabbrica di San Pietro, currently undertaking a six-month course on the restoration of marble.
Apart from this, there were also numerous official visits over the years, including at the highest level. In more recent times, Malta has been deeply honoured to have welcomed the last three Popes: Pope John Paul II, who visited our island in 1990 and in 2001; Pope Benedict XVI, who visited us in 2010; and most recently Pope Francis, who carried out an Apostolic Journey in 2022.
I am also keen to recall my own visit to the Vatican last January, during which I had the great honour of a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis. I will forever remember Pope Francis as a champion for the poor, and a voice for those who do not have one. He was a man who dedicated his life and papacy to social justice, the inclusion of marginalised groups, and the environment, and he will always have a special place in the heart of the people of Malta.
I was therefore pleased to see that in his first messages to the world as the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV indicated that he too will keep peace and social justice as central themes during his papacy. This emerged clearly when he underlined the need for light to prevail over evil and stressed the need to build bridges through dialogue. He spoke with great clarity about his vision for the Church to serve as ‘a leaven for a reconciled world’, a world which in his own words is seeing ‘too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poor’.
These messages in favour of peace, tolerance, and understanding, serve as a beacon of hope in a world that is facing extremely turbulent times. As I have remarked on various occasions, the flames of war raging across different regions serve as stark reminders of the need for dialogue and genuine efforts towards peace. Alongside these conflicts, existential threats such as climate change and the ever-widening economic gap between developed and developing countries, underscore the pressing need for concerted efforts by the international community. We must work collectively to protect and strengthen the multilateral system and uphold the values enshrined in the UN Charter, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Apostolic Nuncio, distinguished guests
Before concluding, I would also like to recognise and honour the contributions of several Maltese citizens, priests, and other religious who have served, and who continue to serve, the Holy See in Rome and in its diplomatic missions overseas. Their contributions over the years have also brought our States closer to one another.
As we commemorate this milestone in our diplomatic relations, let us once again reaffirm our shared commitment to dialogue, compassion, and cooperation. I am confident that the enduring friendship between Malta and the Holy See will continue to flourish in the years to come, guided by the values that unite us.
I thank you.