Ritratt: Miguela XuerebTista’ taqra bil-
Malti.
A solemn Mass was held at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Valletta in memory of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, where Fr Godwin Preca praised her courage in pursuing and speaking the truth.
During his homily, Fr Preca reflected on the lasting wound left by her assassination, saying that “something broke with Daphne’s murder; it is as though our nation never truly recovered. The wound remains open until justice is done. You cannot build a country on the concealment of truth—everyone knows it, even those who never agreed with her.”
A nation in moral turmoil
Fr Preca warned that Malta’s conscience remains unsettled. Despite the country’s material wealth, he said, “Our peace is superficial; we are still restless.” He linked this unease to the environmental degradation and leadership failures that continue to erode the nation’s quality of life.
He urged those present not to fear speaking out, calling on citizens to persist in demanding justice for Daphne and in defending Malta’s natural beauty from destruction.
“It feels as though those who can hear us simply refuse to listen,” he remarked, pointing to the noise, dust, and pollution that are not only damaging public health but also fuelling aggression and division among people.
“We seem to have lost the soul of our country,” he said, adding that the root of the problem lies in “leadership without thought or reflection.”
Fr Preca appealed for Maltese society to rise above partisan and narrow thinking if the nation is to recover its dignity and beauty. “Mediocre leadership without vision keeps us trapped in neglect. What we need are minds that love the country, not power,” he declared.
He expressed hope that Malta could still be renewed, saying, “Not all is lost. Daphne’s spirit and courage remain alive for as long as we keep speaking, meeting, and demanding justice—for her, and for all those disappointed by what is happening in our country.”
Reflecting on the Gospel of the day, Fr Preca noted that what truly angers God is injustice in all its forms. Daphne’s assassination, he said, was a profound injustice against her as a journalist, a mother, and a member of her family.
He drew a parallel between Christ’s courage in confronting religious and political power and Daphne’s own bravery in exposing wrongdoing. “We all know it is not easy to face those who deny the truth,” he said. “She was intelligent and aware of how far her enemies could go.”
Fr Preca also recalled meeting Daphne as a 17-year-old student, a young woman of few words but firm opinions. “Even then, we were already confronting armed police over the injustice done to students’ rights,” he said.
The priest concluded that Daphne’s example continues to call the nation to conscience: to stand for truth, to reject complacency, and to strive for justice that remains long overdue.
Ritratt: Miguela Xuereb
