I have not been overly impressed by Pope Francis' adoption of what - perhaps because I have become a touch cynical in my dotage - might be classified as an overly-demonstrative humility, though I admit it's a sight better than the pomp and ceremony that sometimes obscures Christ's message.

This said, I was moved by the news that he intends to travel to Lampedusa to signal to the world the plight of the refugees who wash up on its shores. This gesture, and I don't use the word in its diminutive sense, should make politicians Europe-wide blush deeply.

Quite the opposite is the attitude taken by our Prime Minister.

I don't imagine for a second that Joseph Muscat the man is a heartless racist, but Joseph Muscat the Prime Minister has unfortunately given precisely the contrary impression. His bandying about of concepts such as "push back" and "stamping our feet" and "standing up for our national rights" is worrying in the extreme.

It is worrying even if it is only evidence that he, or his advisers if he has taken advice, utterly fails to comprehend the completely negative impression that this sort of rhetoric transmits. It is way, way more worrying if he knows that this impression is being transmitted and continues regardless, because he really believes that this is the stance we should be taking.

Let's be clear: Europe has to take its share of responsibility for the human beings (let's not forget they are human beings although they have a different skin colour, as if this even needs to be said) that need our help. We're lucky to be living in a region that can - must - help and we have no right to pull up the drawbridge and let the rest of the world go to hell outside our bastions: why do we think we have a divine right, just because of the accident of being born here?

But the fact that Europe has its responsibilities is not an excuse for our PM to fan the flames of racism that exist here (just as they exist elsewhere) Wrapping yourself in the flag is the resort of insular totalitarians and the Prime Minister of my country should not be - should not even contemplate, more precisely - pandering to these specimens.

The fact that it gives the racists and bigots a warm and fuzzy feeling when the PM makes snide remarks like "why doesn't Sweden take our refugees?" just because the EU Home Affairs Commissioner is Swedish doesn't make the remarks any less childish and reminiscent of the school yard or the saloon bar.

MEP Marlene Mizzi, for all that she then devalued it by invoking the PM's unfortunately phrased position, put a good question to the EU: what does it intend doing to help countries outside the EU? It is incumbent on the EU to give an answer and to give effect to it.

In the meantime, however, would our duly elected Government, even if it has the comfort of 36,000 or however many votes of majority and nine seats in the House, please refrain from threatening to act like some shaven supporter of the BNP?