Mark Miruzzi and Julia Buhagiar are the two young Maltese who attended a one-week conference called MED24, organised in Tirana, Albania, by the Catholic Church. Fifty young men and women from Mediterranean countries participated in this conference to address the challenges and opportunities facing the Mediterranean region.
During the meetings, they discussed various themes, including peace, interreligious and cultural dialogue, human dignity and migration. Under the motto “Pilgrims of Hope, Builders of Peace,” proposed by the Archdiocese of Tirana-Durazzo, MED24 continued Pope Francis’ call to build more bridges of dialogue between different religions and cultures in the Mediterranean.
In a video message, Pope Francis emphasised that peace does not arise spontaneously but must be built by people. He urged that the Mediterranean be united in its diversity and that the Mediterranean Sea continue to serve as a bridge connecting the surrounding countries.
The participants were also joined by bishops from the same countries for two days of dialogue, with the goal of exploring how they can be pilgrims of hope and work together to create a Mediterranean of peace rather than conflict.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi, who was present at the conference, noted that efforts are being made to ensure the Mediterranean “respects life and does not become a cemetery,” referencing the many migrants who have lost their lives while traveling to Europe in search of a better future.
Bishop Galea-Curmi highlighted how, during these two days, they saw the potential for the Mediterranean to foster deeper dialogue. He mentioned being part of a group that included young people from countries such as Ukraine, Kosovo, Tunisia, Lebanon, Montenegro, Albania, Georgia and others.
During his visit to Albania, the Bishop also met with Maltese nationals who are serving in the country, including two Dominican friars and four members of the MUSEUM.