Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday appealed to the faithful not to remain indifferent and to pray for a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.

Speaking at a Pontifical Mass on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Victories, which marks the end of the 1565 Great Siege and Malta’s involvement in World War II, Mgr Cremona noted that Pope Francis asked Christians to pray for worldwide peace.

“This year we should link the ugliness of those two wars with what is going on around us, especially in Syria, which can have worldwide repercussions if the conflicts spread,” he said.

“We know there is a practical problem and appeal to the authorities to do their utmost to solve this problem even in the context of European solidarity,” he said.

Mgr Cremona also appealed for an end to racial prejudice.

Acting President Dolores Cristina laid a wreath at the foot of the Great Siege monument in front of the law courts in Valletta.

The traditional Victory Day regatta was held in Grand Harbour yesterday afternoon.