Young people from 14 Mediterranean countries came together in Malta for four days as part of the MED25 – Bel Espoir project, a youth initiative inspired by Pope Francis’ call to view the Mediterranean not as a barrier, but as a bridge of dialogue, encounter and peace.
The activities in Malta launched the third stage of the MED25 project, centred on the theme “Women in the Mediterranean”. During their time in Malta, the participants explored the island’s rich cultural and spiritual identity through visits to sacred sites such as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa, St John’s Co-Cathedral, and the prehistoric temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. These encounters offered insight into how art, sacred space and symbolism have shaped Maltese culture and broader Mediterranean religious heritage.
The participants are from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Bosnia, Romania, Syria, Georgia, France, Spain, Italy and Malta.
The young people also participated in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi, where they read bidding prayers in their own languages. Recognising each of their unique stories of resilience and witness, Bishop Galea-Curmi described them as “living pages of the Gospel that is still being written”.
The highlight of the visit was a national conference titled Women in the Mediterranean, organised by MED25 Malta and MELA, which addressed the evolving role of women in the region, particularly in the context of migration, conflict and cultural transformation.
The keynote speakers were: Prof. Daniela Debono, who used real-life stories and ethnographic research to explore the humanitarian and political dimensions of Mediterranean migration; Ms Marcelle Bugre Zanya, who examined identity struggles shaped by colonial legacies and the internal and external pressures on women; and Dr Maria Brown, who analysed the paradox of silence and silencing, addressed domestic violence, and advocated for creativity as a pathway to healing.
In their addresses to the Women in the Mediterranean conference, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and President Myriam Spiteri Debono both underscored the urgent need for unity, dignity and hope in the Mediterranean region.
Archbishop Scicluna reflected on Malta’s ancient heritage, noting that its name evokes both ‘a safe haven’ and ‘the island of honey’—powerful symbols of the Maltese spirit, marked by refuge and hospitality, resilience and warmth. He highlighted how the shrines, churches and statues dedicated to Our Lady across Malta continue to testify to the enduring power of the feminine presence as a bridge to the divine.
President Spiteri Debono described the Mediterranean as both a cradle of civilisation and a site of suffering, particularly for women. She praised the leadership of women in fields like education and peacebuilding, while raising concerns over rising domestic violence and feminicide. She urged that lived experience be combined with academic insight to build a more inclusive and compassionate future for women.
During the conference, the NGO Inizjamed brought a literary dimension to the event through poetry readings by Maltese women poets. This contribution revitalised artistic expression in Malta, shedding light on the diverse voices that exist in Malta and the Mediterranean.
The conference continued with small group sessions, giving all participants the chance to share their personal experiences on the selected themes. This exercise in listening and dialogue will be carried forward by MELA, a project of the Episcopal Delegate for Evangelisation in collaboration with the Coordinator of the Diocesan Presence in the Mediterranean, with the aim of creating spaces that foster a culture of encounter, fraternity and reconciliation in the service of peace.
The conference concluded with a reception that provided international participants the opportunity to connect and engage in conversation with local attendees.
The Women in the Mediterranean conference, which was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, was organised by MED25 in Malta in collaboration with MELA.
Youths also took part in an interfaith dialogue at the Mariam Al-Batool Mosque in Paola with Imam Mohammed Elsadi, focusing on the need for peace and mutual understanding among diverse cultures and faiths across the region.
Malta was just one of several stops the young participants will make over eight months as the ship Bel Espoir journeys across the Mediterranean. The group now sails to Crete in Greece, continuing their voyage to foster peace, unity, encounter and hope, inspired by Pope Francis’s vision for the region.