Message by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi
Your Excellency, Excellencies, distinguished guests, and faith leaders, first of all, I would like to convey the greetings of Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who is presently in hospital because of a knee injury. I am sure you all understand how deeply committed he is to promoting this dialogue and this journey together.
As a Church, we try to help every Catholic understand that diversity is a richness and that we should welcome everyone, because every human being is created in the image of God, irrespective of colour, race, nationality, religion, gender, or any other aspect of human identity. We should always show deep respect to all. We strive to help everyone cultivate this attitude. We will have real peace among us if we choose to live in this way.
I believe that peace begins first of all in our hearts. We must first have inner peace. As has been said, inner peace helps us overcome resentment, jealousy, anger, and hatred, and enables us to become instruments of God’s peace among all people.
We should see others not as competitors or adversaries, but as fellow travellers on a common journey. I think this would help us greatly to understand one another and to appreciate each other’s value. As Church, this is what we strive to promote, especially through the Inter-Religious Dialogue Commission and through all those who, in one way or another, work in this field.
We hope to continue this journey together and always to keep one another in our hearts and in our prayers.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop
