The is a play with three main actors, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church; Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, representative of the Partit Laburista; and Angelina Jolie, famous actress and Special Envoy of UNHCR for the rights of immigrants.

Act One:

November 25. The Pope in the European Parliament

Pope Francis addresses the members of the European Parliament. He is the first Pope to do so in 25 years. He speaks of human dignity – the dignity of all men and women, including migrants. He makes a reference to the situation in the Mediterranean.

“Likewise, there needs to be a united response to the question of migration. We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery! The boats landing daily on the shores of Europe are filled with men and women who need acceptance and assistance.”

The Pope gets a standing ovation.

Act Two:

Friday December 12. JPO in Xarabank’s studio

Xarabank, Malta’s most followed television programme, discusses Malliagate. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is one of the two representatives of the Partit Laburista.

At one point he also speaks of irregular migration. He is agitated, extremely angry, shouting at the top of his voice. The new face of the Partit Laburista in his screeching voice declares himself, once more and proudly,  to be in favour of the push back policy of irregular migrants. He screams that he is not alone. He says that there are European politicians favouring push backs of immigrants. He seems to have forgotten that these politicians generally come from the far right fringe groups. This is a strange combination since he had just declared himself to be a proud supporter of the Muscat government which, in turn, dubs itself, as being liberal and progressive.

[Pullicino Orlando is not the only one who comes with such extremist positions in the Partit Laburista. A short while ago there was Mario Azzopardi with his Islamophobic rant and just a few weeks before him there was a Labour candidate (his name eludes me) writing more extreme nonsense on Facebook. Will the Partit Laburista distance itself from the position taken by JPO?

In fairness sake one notes that there are many in the Partit Laburista who do not agree with JPO on this matter. Deborah Schembri, for example, spoke very well in Parliament on the subject of irregular migration.]

Act Three:

Saturday December 13. Angelina Jolie on You Tube

Malta celebrates the 40 anniversary of the Republic. On the same day UNHCR released a five minute video that was  presented and narrated by Angelina Jolie. The title says it all. Malta: Refugees dying at Europe’s Doorstep.

The first shot is a still of a beautiful sunset in Malta.

The calm but at the same time sad voice of Jolie states:

“Here in Malta hidden behind its beauty are harrowing stories of survival. Refugees are crossing the Mediterranean in unprecedented numbers.”

Then the video cuts to survivor narrating his story. He is a doctor who lost his wife and daughter.

“I am alive but I lost everything.”

Other survivors tell their story. Sadness, human tragedy, incredible stories of suffering heightened by the music, the voice of Jolie and the visuals.

As Jolie says these people are “risking everything for a chance of living in peace.” You cannot see the video without being touched by the stories of our fellow human beings. You cannot but wipe the occasional tear.

Curtain closes. The audience sits in respectful silence for some actors and in disgust of others.

There is need for any comments, is there?