Many Maltese have still not realised that the presence of irregular migrants could be a grace to them as well as to the migrants themselves, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said.

Delivering homily in Ghajnsielem, which celebrated its feast yesterday, Mgr Grech said the influx of migrants had led to intense debate. It created material needs as well as a social and cultural shock. More mature reflection was needed on how the people should live this historic moment.

The Church was doing a lot through the Emigrants’ Commission and the Jesuit Refugee Centre, but more remained to be done for the Church to adopt its pastoral work among the migrants and to educate the Maltese and Gozitans who were living this new experience. For the Church in Malta, the influx of migrants was a strong religious shock Many of the faithful had not yet realised that the presence of the migrants could be a moment of grace to them and the migrants themselves.

The Church, Mgr Grech said, was the People of God with a history where immigration featured strongly, including irregular immigration.

For the People of Gozo, offering hospitality to he foreigners was such a golden rule that foreigners were not even excluded from the temple, even if they were of a different faith.

Jesus, who himself was not welcomed by his people, appreciated the positives of those who were of a different culture or faith.

After pointing to various extracts of the Bible, Mgr Grech said the People of God had the migratory experience in their DNA. Their faith, therefore helped them in the way they should treat the irregular migrants.

What worried him, the bishop said, was that some used the Word of God to back their arguments, but they did not realise that the Word of God was as forceful on the phenomenon of immigration.

Immigration, he said, was a challenge and an opportunity not only for the people of Malta, but all of Europe. That underlined the need for a serious European policy on how to receive the migrants.

Mgr Grech also recalled the question posed by Pope Francis during his recent visit to Lampedusa. He had asked – Who is responsible for the death of some many people who tried to cross the Mediterranean in the hope of starting a new life but drowned doing so? 

As the Pope had said, the faithful had a duty to convey a message of hope and solidarity with their foreigners as inspired by the Faith.

He said that a recently formed Diocesan Commission to discuss this historic moment had held its first meeting and he was expecting a report within two months.

See extract of the homily in Maltese on pdf below.