While we are celebrating Valletta being the European Capital of Culture, all the churches and monuments in the city are being highlighted in their splendor and in the importance they give to the capital.

One of the most important historical, religious and architectural monuments in Valletta is certainly the Co-Cathedral of St John. At the opening celebrations, we saw the cathedral under colourful lights and we were filled with joy.

We all felt proud to have such a cathedral that can very well match the best cathedrals and churches in Europe.

However, under the colourful lights, one could also spot the two empty niches on the facade of the cathedral. Why are they empty? Did famous architect Girolomo Cassar want them to remain empty when he built this majestic cathedral? Does the fact that they remain empty ruin the architectural harmony of the cathedral?

I propose to the Church and the government of Malta to place the statues of St John and St Paul in the two niches. I remind those who may oppose the suggestion about the removal of the replica of Christ the Saviour of Alessandro Algardi.

The original bronze bust of Algardi’s Christ the Saviour was commissioned by Fra Alessandro Zambeccari, a Knight of the Order of St John, in the mid-1630s as a gift to the Order and to Malta and, perhaps, to promote the Order too.

Food for thought.