The movement for the international defence of the crucifix was launched in Malta today after having been launched in other European countries, including Italy where it was founded.

The movement, founded in Rome last year by Roberto Mezzaroma, a former member of the European Parliament and well established architect and entrepreneur, aims to lobby for support for the crucifix to be given the recognition it deserved.

The Movimento Etico Internazionale per la Difesa del Crocifisso (Medic) has petitioned Unesco to declare the crucifix as the ‘Heritage of Humanity’.

The vision of Medic, according to Mr Mezzaroma, who addressed today’s conference, is to present the suffering Christ on the cross as a symbol of contradiction, of love and reconciliation.

Medic wants to encourage people to look up to the crucifix as an image of God made man, who accepted the suffering and the humiliation of the sacrifice of the cross, Mr Mezzaroma said.

He called on the Maltese government to support the initiative along with other countries which have already expressed their support such as Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Russia, Greece, Lithuania, Monaco, Romania and San Marino – the countries which supported Italy in its appeal against the original crucifix judgement handed down by the European Court of Human Rights.