Claudia Calleja
Time to prove Catholic roots - President
Fenech Adami delivers last festive message
President Eddie Fenech Adami addresses the crowd as Labour leader Joseph Muscat looks on. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
Christmas was a time to prove that Malta still possessed Catholic roots, Eddie Fenech Adami said in his last festive message as Presidentyesterday.
Speaking at the traditional Milied Flimkien (Christmas together) event held at the ruins of the old Opera House in Valletta, Dr Fenech Adami stressed the importance of maintaining traditional the Catholic values that helped the country move forward over the years.
He also reflected on his own journey in public life, which comes to an end on April 4 when he steps down as President. "This will be my last message after spending a long time in the three highest posts," he said.
As well as serving five years as President, Dr Fenech Adami was Prime Minister for 15 years and opposition leader for 11 years in turbulent times.
Dr Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Labour leader Joseph Muscat and Archbishop Paul Cremona sat side by side for the event yesterday.
Mgr Cremona echoed Pope Benedict's Christmas message, saying this was a time to reflect on forgotten values in the context of the global financial crisis.
The gift of simplicity should also be revisited as we realise that, just like the nativity scene, happiness could be found in simple things, he said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, meanwhile, called on people to work together to overcome the global crisis and celebrate Catholic values by passing them on to today's children so that they would respect human dignity irrespective of a person's colour or class.
Dr Muscat said the Maltese had the ability to work together at crucial times.
"Our message must be one of optimism during this time when pessimism is constantly thrown at us because of the global crisis," he said.
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A.Lombardi
Jan 5th 2009, 20:38
@Gerry Cowie
St Paul himsef brought the Catholic faith to Malta, which is an undeniably historic fact.
What did St Paul Bring to Malta ?
St Pauls brought the Christian Faith to Malta not the catholic faith !!!!!!!
which you should find that there is a Huge difference "Hemm bahar jaqsam" between Christianity and roman Catholicism !!!!!
Read will only have to read the Bible to find out !!!!!
Cauchi Ronald
Dec 22nd 2008, 14:41
With all due respect to the President, He is entitled to believe whatever he likes and should let the rest of us do the same. And this goes for the Prime Minister, Ministers and Mps of either Party. I am not interested in what any of them call Values but in their deeds. I have my own set of values and certainly do not expect any jumped-up politician to try to stuff his down my throat or any other orifice!
Franco Farrugia
Dec 21st 2008, 14:11
@ Mr Cowie - I am sorry, I disagree with you. Howevermuch I love the Church, I still maintain that in today's day and age, the country's leaders should steer clear away from speaking religion. That is not their task.
There are many issues nowadays and we have fundamentalists in every religion, in the Catholic faith, too.
So, one should be moderate in one's language. It is not a question of having a moral lead or not, because, indeed, sir, if you were around in Malta for the past 40 years, 'mayhem' was also brought about by those who believed that they were morality personified in this country.
Hell is paved with good intentions.
Gerry Cowie
Dec 21st 2008, 11:42
This one will prove "a red rag to a bull" to all those secularists who continually deny with brick wall steadfastness that Malta either could or should be described as in any way Catholic, and who venemoulsy oppose the role of the Church, even in religion itself, let alone public life!
St Paul himsef brought the Catholic faith to Malta, which is an undeniably historic fact.
Whether or not people oppose the Church, it cannot be denied that a good moral lead is beneficial to society as a whole, otherwise there would be considerably more mayhem than there is already!
Yes, it is important for us all to pull together and make the best of what we have, whatever our religion, if we have one.
Il Milied u festi tajba, Malta!