Malta, like the rest of the world, paid tribute on Sunday to the fallen servicemen and civilians of the two world wars, with particular emphasis being made on World War One, which ended exactly 100 years ago.

Archbishop Charles J Scicluna leading Pontifical Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral while President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca laid a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the War Memorial, which was built to mark WWI and later also adapted to mark WWII.

World War I ended on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.  

MPs from both sides of the House and members of the diplomatic corps attended the Mass, along with ex-servicemen.

The President inspected an AFM Guard of Honour on St John Square before the Mass.

READ: From tragedy to democracy – the consequences of World War One on Malta

READ: The Armistice and the reaction in Malta – November 11, 1918

Watch: Watch: World leaders hold solemn ceremony in Paris to mark WW1 Armistice centenary

In his homily, the Archbishop called for people to embrace peace. He stressed that even when tempted to cause others harm, people should stop to think of consequences that such actions might have on others. 

"We are called to be homo sapiens because we have to embrace the wisdom that brings peace, fraternity and justice because this is what we want to remember when we remember the failure of humanity in war. We pray for our dead. We pray that those who have been deprived of life, of dignity and even of their faith because of the cruelty of their rulers. May we find them in the embrace of the mercy of God," he said. 

Reflecting on the celebrations around the world marking the end of World War I, Mgr Scicluna said that while church bells pealed today "in a sigh of relief for the end of war", people should, on this day, also ask for forgiveness. 

"We may ring our church bells at noon today, in a sigh of relief for the end of the war but we need to ask forgiveness for such cruelty, for such ill will hate one of the other, for becoming homo rapiens than being homo sapiens."

 

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