Loss of a national treasure

Fr Peter Serracino Inglott, who has died after a long illness, was, among his manifold range of activities, a founder member of Malta’s only independent think-tank, The Today Public Policy Institute.

Fr Peter’s range of interests and intellectual bandwith were truly remarkable- Martin Scicluna

The simplest way to describe Fr Peter is that he was a national treasure, in the truest sense of the word. An academic colleague of his recently described him as “a true polymath, a thinker capable of multidisciplinary synthesis in the arts, cultural history and international relations, and in philosophy and theology. His contributions in philosophy, politics, music and the arts are numerous and varied.”

But it is in the manner in which he contributed to a range of causes and the quality of his input, his kindness, his humility, humour and breadth of vision that we shall all miss. As one of the founding fathers of The Today Public Policy Institute he always gave of his time generously and provided level-headed input on every policy topic on the think tank’s agenda. His presence in the institute, where he was until recently working on a review of the Constitution of Malta, will be most sorely missed.

However, it is when viewed in the context of his myriad involvement, in Malta and internationally, with so many different activities, that his contribution to any single one becomes so much more impressive. And the question that invariably came to mind when approaching Fr Peter about anything, was how did he find the time, for he was incapable of saying no either to a request for advice or to his more substantive involvement.

His endeavours in Malta are well known – as a priest and his broader work for the diocese, as an academic serving as rector of the University of Malta overseeing the largest expansion in its history and as dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, as chairman of the Council for the Arts, Science and Technology, as writer, composer and political adviser – the list is almost endless.

His international work and reputation included lecturing extensively in Europe and North America, chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, chairman of the Commonwealth Science Council, chairman of the Mediterranean Institute and chairman of the Malta Operational Centre of the International Ocean Institute. His range of interests and intellectual bandwith were truly emarkable.

Fr Peter was very much a Man for All Seasons. His life touched that of so many. Above all, he was a good and most lovable man who, as an outstandingly enlightened, generous and open-minded priest, gave spiritual comfort and encouragement to so many people. May he rest in peace.

Mr Scicluna is Director General of The Today Public Policy Institute.