Greetings and best wishes for a joyous Christmas to everyone following and listening to this message. This year, I have chosen to deliver my Christmas reflections from this dear location, Hospice Malta, traditionally known as the Cini Institute in Santa Venera. What is the historical significance of this place to the Maltese and Gozitans?
Cini Institute began as a food production facility owned by the Cini family, who operated a pasta factory here. In the 19th century, Adelaide Cini transformed her family’s factory into a refuge for young women in need, offering them protection and dignity. Over the years, this institution became a sanctuary, a place where new generations found their beginning.
Today, this cherished place is home to Hospice Malta, an organisation dedicated to providing care and support to our brothers and sisters as they prepare for their eternal journey.
You might wonder why I chose this venue to deliver my message on Christmas Day, of all days. Christmas is not merely a celebration of birth; it is also a profound reminder of the eternity of life. My wish is that we treasure this Christmas as a meaningful milestone in our journey towards a wonderful life—a journey that calls us to live with intention while we are here on earth, and at the same time prepare ourselves for eternal life.
After all, the child whose birth we commemorate during these holy days offers us the gift of eternal life. His kingdom is not of this world, yet His message calls us to begin our journey toward eternity even now, living out the words: “Be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph. 1:4). The invitation from the child born in Bethlehem, Jesus of Nazareth, is an invitation to live life to its fullest potential.
This Christmas, after celebrating the 50th anniversary of our Republic together, I wish to emphasise and renew my appeal to the Maltese and Gozitan people: let us remain open to the gift of life. Let us build a culture of hope for the future, for the generations yet to come, so that our homes are filled with the blessing of children.
Today, as we celebrate the profound blessing that the birth of a child brings, let us also reflect on how each new life enriches society in countless ways. Rather than despairing that our nation currently holds the lowest birthrate in Europe, we must respond with concrete action. Each of us bears a responsibility to contribute to creating a supportive and nurturing environment—one that inspires young couples to embrace the future with hope, build loving homes, and welcome the gift of children.
I acknowledge that not everyone can experience this blessing. I extend my deepest encouragement to those couples who choose adoption or fostering. I also wish to commend the efforts of all who contribute to creating an environment that supports and facilitates the journey of parenthood, nurturing hope that new life will continue to flourish in our nation.
We are gathered in St Michael Hospice, a place where hope is understood not as confined to this earthly existence, but as a guiding light toward our ultimate and eternal destination. Let us pray for our society to embrace a culture of life, honouring its sanctity from conception to natural death. May the provision of palliative care stand as a beacon of hope, reflecting a society that cherishes and upholds the dignity of life in all its stages.
We are on the threshold of the Jubilee of Hope, declared by Pope Francis as a year characterised by hope. When we Bishops of Malta and Gozo met with Pope Francis on the 17th of May 2024, we asked him what his wish for 2025, for the Jubilee of Hope, is. He responded with the words, “Una grande festa di misericordia” (a great feast of mercy). I add that, first and foremost, mercy must begin with ourselves and our brethren and be open to receiving the infinite mercy of God.
May the forthcoming new year be another one defined by solidarity and compassion, with mercy extended to ourselves and to one another. May the profound experience of this Christmas season resonate deeply in our hearts and continue to inspire our actions throughout the year ahead.
I extend my heartfelt greetings to all Maltese emigrants. I thank you for upholding the values of our beloved nation, values that I sincerely wish we would continue to keep alive by taking care of our nation. Let us give our nation a future, even by blessing it with children.
I wholeheartedly wish you a blessed Christmas, and a year full of prosperity and blessings.
✠ Charles Jude Scicluna
Archbishop of Malta