Malta should help Europe rediscover Christian roots

Archbishop Joseph Mercieca yesterday called for Malta's contribution to help Europe rediscover and embrace its Christian roots.

At a High Mass celebrated at St John's Co-Cathedral to mark Malta's accession to the European Union, the Archbishop said Europe, like Malta, would not have been what it is without the acknowledgement that God is the Supreme Being who guarantees the freedom and dignity of the human person.

"Europe would not be what it is today without Christianity's contribution," he said.

The Mass was attended by the President and Mrs Fenech Adami, Acting Prime Minister and Mrs Tonio Borg, the Speaker and Mrs Anton Tabone, Cabinet ministers, former Presidents of the Republic, MPs, members of the diplomatic corps and of the Judiciary, and other distinguished personalities.

President Fenech Adami inspected an AFM guard of honour before entering the Co-Cathedral.

Mgr Mercieca said the values on which the European Union is being built were those same values that had been preached by Jesus in the gospel - dignity of the human person, freedom and the sense of the universal.

"The Beatitudes the Divine Lord taught us in the Sermon of the Mount have a central place in the life of our country and that of Europe. In them, we find dimensions of justice and solidarity from which the social model of our country and that of Europe forms and renews itself.

"As stated by Pope John Paul II in his January 2004 address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, without underestimating other religious traditions, the fact is that Europe was consolidated at the same time of its evangelisation."

He said the Church had been among the first institutions in Europe to open schools and universities and to create the idea of social services.

"Moreover, it is appropriate to also remember that, only a short time ago Christians, by promoting freedom and human rights, contributed to the peaceful transformation of authoritarian regimes as well as the restoration of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe," he said.

Mgr Mercieca said everybody would like to see Malta reaping the best fruits possible from membership. However, he added, "it is God that can grant us the wisdom, reinforce our will so that we move in the right in love, fraternity, justice, solidarity and high regard of the common good."

The archbishop called on politicians and the social partners to understand that their principal duty is to give the best contribution possible towards the common good.

"Our wish that Malta's accession to the EU will help it make the kind of progress needed to ensure for all our people a better quality of life, is a common aspiration of us all."

Today's celebrations

European Union celebrations today will continue with the inauguration of a European Village on Palace Square, Valletta. Performers, ambassadors and representatives of 21 EU member states as well as applicant states Bulgaria and Romania, will assemble at City Gate at 9 a.m., from where they will walk down Republic Street.

The San Gwann Scout Group will carry the flags of the EU member states and play band marches along the way.

At around 10 a.m., Acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg and his wife arrive on Palace Square greeted by the Scouts, followed by President Eddie Fenech Adami.

Performers from different countries will perform on the main stage at Palace Square.

At noon, a re-enactment of the Noon Day gun salute will take place at the Saluting Battery of Upper Barrakka gardens.

Other performances at the European Village include a défilé by the carnival troupe from Misterbianco, Italy (5.30 p.m.), the Swedish Cirkor Group (6.30), Chipolatas Group from UK (7), Serpents, Slovenia (7.45) and the Rajko Orchestra of Hungary (8.30).

A youth concert to celebrate accession will also take place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre at 7 p.m. Leading singers Julie Zahra, Ludwig Galea, Fabrizio Faniello, Georgina, Olivia Lewis, Ryan Abela and the St Julian's Children's Choir Cantores Sancti Juliani, will be accompanied by the Sliema Youth Band conducted by Sigmund Mifsud.