Official celebration held to mark Victory Day

Official celebrations to mark Victory Day reached their highlight this morning with Pontifical Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral followed by the laying of a wreath at the Great Siege Monument by the President.

Before the Mass, President George Abela inspected an AFM Guard of Honour that stood smartly in St John Square.

The Mass was attended by, among others, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, the judiciary, members of the diplomatic corps and Knights of Malta wearing their robes.

Mgr Cremona said today was a joyous double celebration, marking the birth of Our Lady and Malta's triumphs in the Great Siege and the Second World War.

He said that various religious and secular values complemented each other and reached the same conclusion. Among them were human rights and environmental protection.

He, however, restated the Church's opposition to abortion and the freezing of embryos.