A Mediterranean hermeneutic : papal speeches in Malta and the formation of a Mediterranean ethical imagination

Abstract

Over the past thirty-five years, Malta has welcomed four Apostolic Journeys undertaken by three Popes. Although each journey unfolded within its own historical moment and addressed a Malta that was never quite the same, all three Popes consistently emphasised the island’s enduring Mediterranean vocation. Their speeches, shaped by the political, cultural and ecclesial contexts of their times, offer a meaningful – if often overlooked – source for understanding how Malta’s identity has been interpreted from an external yet influential perspective. This article explores these speeches within their respective contexts, considering both their distinctive emphases and the themes they share. By tracing how papal messages to Malta have evolved over the decades, this article aims to address the broader question of what truly constitutes the Maltese as ‘a people’. The analysis that follows seeks not only to interpret the texts themselves but also to reflect on the points they raise about Malta’s self-understanding and its place within the Mediterranean region. [excerpt]