On Sunday, 27th April 2025, a conference titled ‘Women in the Mediterranean’ will take place in Malta as part of the activities of ‘MED 25 – Bel Espoir,’ an initiative by the Holy See coordinated by the Archdiocese of Marseille. The conference will be held at 4pm at the Mediterranean Conference Centre and is being organised by MED 25 in Malta in collaboration with MELA, a project by the Episcopal Delegate for Evangelisation, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Malta and the Maltese Episcopal Conference.
Between the 26th and 28th of April, 25 young people will arrive in Malta to spend several days aboard the ship Bel Espoir, immersed in Maltese culture. Alongside local youth, they will explore the theme of women in the Mediterranean context and will have the opportunity to connect with and engage various communities across the island.
The conference, which will be held in English, will explore women’s experiences in the Mediterranean in the context of migration and conflict, with reflections on identity and the challenges faced within society. Topics will include vulnerability, strength, and resilience, as well as the impact of silence as an expression of dignity or a tool of oppression. The public is invited to attend and participate in the conference.
The conference seeks to ignite meaningful dialogue on evolving perceptions of women and their role in society at a time when reports of domestic violence and femicide are on the rise in Malta. In response, the Church in Malta is striving to create spaces for conversation that foster renewed and transformative narratives.
Keynote speakers include Dr. Maria Brown, Ms. Marcelle Bugre, and Prof. Daniela Debono. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Dorianne Buttigieg. The conference will open with an introduction by Prof. Nadia Delicata and conclude with remarks from the Synod of Bishops’ Undersecretary, Sister Nathalie Becquart—the first woman to hold this role and to vote in a synod. The President of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, will also address the conference.
During the event, the organisation Inizjamed is invited to contribute a literary element through readings of poetry by Maltese women poets, renewing artistic expression in Malta through a deeper awareness of the cultural diversity present in Malta, the Mediterranean, and beyond.
More details and registration can be found at mela.org.mt/conference.
As part of this Mediterranean experience, the public is also invited to attend a talk exploring the art of the Order of St John in Malta and its influence on cultural appreciation across the Mediterranean region. This talk will be led by Rev. Dr Nicholas Doublet. Afterwards, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea Curmi will celebrate mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral at 9:30am. The mass will include participation from members of the international and Mediterranean communities in Malta.
The three-day event is being organised in collaboration with Heritage Malta and Valletta Cruise Port.
About ‘MED 25 – Bel Espoir’
The ‘MED 25 – Bel Espoir’ project is inspired by Pope Francis’s call for the Mediterranean to become a space of encounter and peace. In March, the ship Bel Espoir embarked on an eight-month journey from Barcelona, carrying around 200 young people aged 20 to 35 to various Mediterranean locations, including Malta.
Throughout this unique experience, young people are encouraged to contribute actively to unity and peace in Mediterranean countries by strengthening dialogue and human connection in times of conflict and instability. At each port, seminars will be held on themes such as the environment, migration, and the economy.
Monsignor Alexis Leproux, the Episcopal Vicar of Marseille in charge of Mediterranean relations, stated that this project offers young people the chance to discover their relevance in society and the world, creating a humanitarian and philosophical space for the progress of Mediterranean peoples.