Archbishop hails value of work and human dignity

Archbishop Paul Cremona said workers should bear in mind that their dignity as humans should take priority over the dignity brought about by work.

"It is wonderful when we - including me as the Archbishop - consider ourselves to first have our own dignity as humans, which is followed by the dignity which I, for example, now exercise as a person who is an Archbishop.

"The point of it all lies in dignity. God forbid our work becomes more important. God forbid that, because I'm an Archbishop, I think that my dignity as a human being is inferior," he said on Wednesday.

Mgr Cremona was speaking during Mass at the Manufacturing and Services Department in Marsa to mark Labour Day.

He noted that the Bible touched upon the value of work in various instances. Christ chose to come into the world as the son of a worker - Joseph the carpenter - when he could have chosen to be a king.

The Archbishop reflected how, when celebrating Mass, Christ chose that wine and bread be offered. He could have chosen grapes and wheat but these are God's creations whereas wine and bread are the fruit of man's labour.