The country’s vices are in sharp contrast to the picture “we portray of ourselves and with which we are more at ease”, Malta’s bishops said in a Pastoral Letter for Lent 2014 yesterday.

The bishops spoke about the recent “alarming increase in violence, which points to the fact that a web of organised crime may be prevalent”.

They added: “There has also been a rise in domestic violence and brutal attacks on elderly persons, as well as other hostilities of all sorts which render family relations difficult. This is a source of concern. We have also heard about cases of corruption which are of an almost institutional nature.”

The Pastoral Letter said that society’s moral fibre was being eroded which led people to believe that there is nothing wrong with stealing, evading taxes and taking false oaths in court.

Pope Francis is repeatedly insisting that we need to renew our personal encounter with Jesus Christ

“This is not a beautiful picture, yet it is also a part of the real, holistic picture of our country. We should be troubled by all this; but instead of being scandalised and passing judgement, we should combine our efforts and do whatever is necessary, because we are all responsible for one another and for our country,” the bishops said.

The Pastoral Letter, entitled ‘Our share in building society’ and signed by Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of Malta Charles Scicluna, said that Lent should be a catalyst which encourages people to take an honest look at themselves.

The bishops said that Pope Francis was asking the faithful to become a more authentic Church.

“He [Pope Francis] is repeatedly insisting upon the fact that we need to renew our personal encounter with Jesus Christ. He is continually inviting us to become more simple, to be a poorer Church, one which is close to the poor; in such a way we become genuine Christian communities with our doors always open and where nobody is excluded,” they said.