My sincere sympathy to the Mintoff family on the loss of their patriarch. And if I might be permitted a special expression of sympathy to his brother Fr Dionysus Mintoff, who possesses many of the same inclinations as his more controversial political brother – especially to raise the fair aspirations of all working men and women to a level more reflective of human dignity.

The disputes with the Church and the violence of an angered and irrational time are best forgotten and forgiven, and now forever unthinkable.

From our standpoint in America, I can tell you that, as my former constitutional law client and President Ronald Reagan’s diary reflects, the US was disappointed when Malta chose to align with nations observing, at the time, ideologies hostile to freedom and far less capable of bringing out the best in yourselves and all humankind.

Yet that less happy and darker time led to Malta’s alignment in favour of peace and neutrality and prosperity within the European Union, which, it will come to no one’s surprise reading these words, I attribute as much to the hard work and intelligence of the Maltese people as to Providence and God’s blessing that comes despite our imperfections.

It seems the month of August is one that shall forever perplex my memory of your beautiful island.

It is near the anniversary of the Assumption of our mother Mary that prompts me at this moment not to forget the sustenance brought by the crew of the USS Ohio arriving early one August 15, 1942, in the Grand Harbour to sustain the courageous lives of those whose valour the flag of Malta flies proudly in sublime refutation of the corrupting power represented by the truly dark and reprehensible times of Adolf Hitler.

So too, it was just two years ago that the beloved great contributor to peace through diplomatic skill, Guido de Marco returned to the home that calls all of us regardless of political view to return to the love of our Creator.