Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi
Today, we gather to pray for the light of the Holy Spirit upon those to whom the people have entrusted the great responsibility of governing our country. This celebration is not merely a tradition that accompanies the opening of a new legislature. Above all, it is an expression of the awareness that every human authority, however important, remains limited if it is not helped by the Lord, enlightened by wisdom, guided by truth, and inspired by a sincere commitment to the common good.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit who grants wisdom to those entrusted with responsibility for public life, enabling them to recognise that the challenges we face cannot be solved solely through technical or administrative abilities. They require moral vision, courage of conscience, and profound respect for the dignity of every person. These qualities will help them build the nation wisely, upon solid foundations, upon rock and not upon sand (cf. Mt 7:24–27).
Core Values
Therefore, today, we pray in a special way for governance guided by the values of honesty, integrity, and accountability. Public life cannot flourish where deceit becomes acceptable or where personal interest takes the place of the common good. Citizens expect their representatives to be sincere in word, transparent in action, and responsible in the exercise of their authority.
Integrity is the consistency between what one says and what one does. It is the courage to do what is right, even when it is unpopular. It is fidelity to one’s conscience even, when there are pressures to compromise fundamental principles. A nation is strengthened when it is led by women and men of character, whose decisions are guided by what is right, not by convenience.
We pray for a renewed commitment to justice. Justice is not merely the correct enforcement of laws, which is so essential. It is the continual effort to ensure that every person receives what is due to them, because of the dignity they possess as human beings. A just society protects workers, supports families, embraces those who suffer, and strives to ensure that economic progress benefits the whole community.
We also pray for a commitment to unity – a commitment that requires patient dialogue, mutual respect, and a true sense of statehood, so that the good of the nation is placed above every partisan interest and political rivalry. We must all strive, in our actions and words, to show great esteem and respect for one another, and never to indulge in verbal violence.
Care for Creation
We pray that we may be faithful stewards of creation. The protection of the environment in our country is both a responsibility and a moral urgency. Creation is a gift entrusted to our care. Future generations have the right to inherit a land that is beautiful, healthy, and capable of sustaining life.
Environmental responsibility requires a long-term vision. It challenges us to resist the temptation of immediate profit that causes long-term harm and creates ever greater degradation, and to put an end to destruction disguised as development.
The Protection of Life
Among all the responsibilities entrusted to legislators, there is one that touches the very foundation upon which all other rights rest: the protection of human life and its dignity. Without respect for human life, the entire structure of human rights becomes fragile.
In this context, the words addressed by Pope Leo XIV to the Spanish Parliament a few days ago (8 June 2026) deserve profound reflection:
“If life ceases to be recognised as a fundamental value, what future can our societies have? Can a community that casts into the shadows the unborn child, the elderly, the sick, those who suffer in silence, or those who depend entirely on the care of others, be called fully just? The defence of human life is neither a partisan issue nor a confessional interest: it is a goal of civilization. Every human life must be recognised and safeguarded from conception to its natural end, in every circumstance of its existence. When this certainty is obscured, the most vulnerable are the first victims, and the law loses its deepest meaning: to serve and protect every person. For this reason, the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to accompany, protect and love those lives that are most fragile”.
These precious words of the Pope remind us of a truth that transcends every political division: matters concerning life and death cannot be made dependent upon the popular consensus of a particular moment. Human dignity does not derive its origin from public approval, nor does it depend on a person’s age, health, productivity, or social usefulness. It lies at the heart of every human life created in the image of God – regardless of race, skin colour, gender, or religion.
A truly humane society is measured not by the comfort of the strong, but by the protection it offers to the weak. The greatness of a nation is not primarily determined by its material wealth, but by its capacity to defend the vulnerable and those who cannot defend themselves.
Moral Responsibility
Those entrusted with the responsibility of making laws, therefore, carry a great moral burden. Laws are not merely instruments of administration. They express what a society considers valuable. They shape culture, educate consciences, and influence future generations. Every law must therefore be measured against a fundamental question: to what extent does it truly protect and promote the dignity of the human person?
As this new Parliament begins its work, while we extend our best wishes to all its members, we pray that they may be of strong character, guided by wisdom, and work so that integrity may triumph over corruption, truth over falsehood, respect over hatred, dialogue over division, service over selfish ambition, and conviction over convenience. We pray also that the protection of the dignity of every human life may always remain at the centre of our national life.
Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten our minds, purify our intentions, strengthen our hearts, and renew our country.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop of Malta
