Christians must not respond to terrorist acts with the same language of violence, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said.

In a homily that reflected on the virtue of mercy, Mgr Scicluna said Christians had to find the spiritual strength to forgive their enemies.

“This does not mean staying silent [in front of injustices and terrorism] but rather responding in a different language, just as Christ did,” he told the congregation celebrating the feast of Christ the King at the Żabbar parish church.

The feast marks the start of the liturgical year, which Pope Francis has declared as the Year of Mercy.

The Archbishop said it was an aberration for any faith community that anyone should resort to violence in the name of God. “This is blasphemy,” he said with reference to terrorist claims that their actions were inspired by Islam.

Mgr Scicluna’s words come at a time of anxiety following the Paris attacks that left 130 people dead and European capitals reeling under the fear of more terrorist activity.

Over the weekend Brussels was in lockdown after the Belgian authorities raised the security threat to its highest level, fearing multiple attacks in the capital.

Although Maltese authorities have repeatedly said the country faces no known threat, the terrorist activity has conditioned everyday discussions.

These are not the words Christians should use

The terror attacks have also stoked the flames of Islamophobia and fanned anti-immigrant sentiment across Europe, including Malta. But the Archbishop cautioned against this attitude.

He called on the faithful to change their attitude and convert if they used words of “hatred and racism” against migrants. “These are not the words Christians should use.”

He said Christians should use the opportunity presented to them by the Church and show mercy by forgiving one another. This was the time to continue the reconciliation process.

“Let us stop being victims of our own actions. Let us stop retribution. Let us stop using harsh words against each other,” he said, reflecting on the Gospel reading from St Luke that spoke of forgiveness.

But the Archbishop also used the occasion to remind politicians of the need to protect the embryo. The law as it stands today offered adequate protection and was an expression of mercy, he said.

The reference was to government plans for allowing embryo freezing as part of the in vitro fertilisation process. The Church opposes the move to change current legislation, which prohibits embryo freezing except in grave circumstances.

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