‘New expressions of solidarity’ needed to target poverty, archbishop says

New types of poverty are emerging that require ‘new expressions of solidarity’, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said in the traditional Independence Day homily. 

He was celebrating mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta to an audience of politicians and dignitaries.

Scicluna chose solidarity as the theme for this year’s celebrations marking Malta’s 54thanniversary since gaining independence.

“Although the economy is doing well, we must acknowledge that the poor are always with us and new types of poverty demand of us new expressions of solidarity,” he said.

Scicluna also touched on the migration issue and appealed for a broad EU agreement“to find an adequate and efficient response” to the issue. He said the EU had to show solidarity towards migrants.

But Scicluna’s message was also a veiled reaction to the controversial approval of the db project on Thursday by the Planning Authority.

Without mentioning the project or the PA decision, he called for intergenerational solidarity – the solidarity between the aging and the unborn.

Solidarity should not simply consider the immediate impact of decisions made by the current generation, he said.

“Solidarity must not overlook the future… among these decisions are those that have an impact on the environmental heritage of our country, on the cultural, historical, architectural, and archaeological legacy of this gracious land to which we owe our name,” he said.