Leaders stress real meaning of Christmas

The heavens opened just as Czech Ambassador Libor Secka was about to deliver his speech during a ceremony on Valletta's Freedom Square for the lighting of a 12-metre live Christmas tree - a gift to Malta from Czech President Vaclav Klaus.

But the downpour did not prevent the ambassador from reading a letter of greetings, which President Klaus sent with the tree, as umbrellas were swiftly held for President Eddie Fenech Adami and his wife, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife, and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, who were standing under the tree in Freedom Square about to get drenched.

The Christmas tree was lit by Dr Fenech Adami to the tune of the Armed Forces Band's playing. The ceremony was part of the Milied Flimkien event that was being screened live for TV.

During his Christmas address to the nation, the President emphasised "solidarity" - shown also in the collection of money, but not only.

Solidarity was not just a word, but it needed to be a part of our actions all the year round, starting within the family, he said.

"We need to understand and live our Christian values; we need to understand what Christmas means in our everyday lives," Dr Fenech Adami said as he spoke of the constant need to help those who somehow could not keep up.

In his own message, Mgr Mercieca pointed out that "Christmas is being lived according to the fashion" and that attention was being paid to its material aspect and not to Jesus.

The country did not only need money, but also strong families and good citizens, the Archbishop said in a forceful address.

The Archbishop spoke of wrong philosophies that were imported into Malta and causing damage, like the idea of men marrying men.

Politicians were not there just for the political parties, but also for the people and had to collaborate, he said, stressing the importance of the family unit and how God wanted a husband and wife to stay together to bring up their children together, uphold their values and be able to forgive.

Dr Sant's solidarity was focused on the forgotten, the downtrodden and the weak, those who carried burdens, the unemployed, the sick and the elderly, and those who felt excluded from society and disadvantaged.

Donations were well and good and it was important for those who had more to give to those who had less, but solidarity went beyond that.

Dr Sant condemned those who tried to sow the seeds of hatred towards other races, ruining solidarity with racist sentiments.

In a more positive and upbeat address, Prime Minister Gonzi dwelt on the good in the country, while not forgetting to mention the sectors of society which needed help and a shoulder to lean on.

Malta still had values - "the roots that keep the tree strong" - which should be defended, he said.

On the problem of illegal immigration, the Prime Minister spoke of the need to respect the dignity of all people, irrespective of colour and creed, and to treat them as equals.

"This is a challenge for the country and a crucial test to show that these values are real," he said.

For Dr Gonzi, it was the minority that sowed the seeds of division, while the majority showed respect.

Urging the Maltese to celebrate the good in life this Christmas, he augured that, in the new year, they would reflect on the fact that they were capable of being sensitive to human dignity.