“It is an interruption... a task which any genuine academic who loves teaching and research only accepts because it needs to be done”
December 1992, in an interview with Malta This Month on how he viewed his appointment as rector of the University of Malta in July 1991.
“Reading was simply assumed to be as natural a vital function as eating, and listening to classical music as much a part of daily life as washing and washing-up”
December 1992, recounting his “exemplary” upbringing and his gratitude to being brought up in a house where money was scarce.
“There is nothing I have done since 1962 that I have not done as a priest... the priesthood is a permanent configuration of one’s personality”
In the 1990s, describing how his calling imbued every facet of his life.
“It is foolish of anyone to think that an electoral manifesto can be the product of one person... My role was to develop vision and action on Christian principles”
February 1993, in an interview with The Sunday Times, when asked about his involvement with the Nationalist Party.
“A theatre without a roof is useless”
March 2010, in comments to The Times, expressing his dismay that Renzo Piano’s plans for Valletta’s old Opera House site did not include a “whole retractable roof”.
“I do not believe the stipend is a corrupting influence”
September 1996, in an interview with The Sunday Times, soon after he stepped down as University rector, when asked if he thought stipends had an adverse effect on the values of students.
“The Archbishop is not the ultimate authority on these issues and nor does he carry moral responsibility for such decisions”
July 2010, in an interview with The Sunday Times, at a time when the divorce debate was raging, Fr Peter insists these decisions fall squarely on MPs.
“Freezing per se cannot be considered to be a way of killing the embryo since it is keeping it alive. It is wrong only when freezing is done with an ulterior motive to destroy the embryo”
March 2011, during a discussion on in vitro fertilisation organised by AŻAD.
“If I die I can meet Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and all the other clowns”
January 2011, in an interview with Illum, recounting his experience in the hospital’s ITU, where some would ask him if he was scared to die.