Archbishop: Tolerating lies would be 'disgraceful' for a university

Archbishop Charles Scicluna warned about the dangers of members of the academic community resorting to lies, as he spoke during the re-opening of the Jesuits' Church in Valletta. 

Addressing an audience that included President Myriam Spiteri Debono and university dons, the Archbishop urged the University of Malta to remain a “nest of truth” and to resist any temptation to allow deceit to take root within its walls.

Referring to St John the Baptist, Archbishop Scicluna said the saint had the courage to “speak truth to power” despite knowing it would cost him his life. That example, he said, remained deeply relevant today.

The mass was held at the Jesuits Church in Valletta.

“There are dangers all over the world, from Afghanistan to Iran and to other countries closer to us, which believe they live in freedom but in reality are gripped by an autocratic regime,” he said.

“Whoever wants to understand this will understand what I am referring to.”

The Archbishop reflected on the historical role of the Jesuits, noting that they had consistently sought to communicate truth to society until they were eventually forced out by powerful interests. 

From that rupture, he said, the University of Malta was born, with the Jesuit Church standing as a silent witness to that legacy.

“I hope the University of Malta, which celebrated its life in this church, has the strength to remain a nest of truth and not of deceit,” he said.

He warned it would be “disgraceful” if an institution that claims to uphold the dignity of the human person were to tolerate the distortion of truth or the normalisation of deception.“

At a university that welcomes and defends human dignity, truth must be celebrated,” Archbishop Scicluna said.

“I pray that the wisdom granted to you by God may be used always for the good of humanity.”

The message comes days after a court of appeal confirmed that University academic Simon Mercieca defamed activist and columnist Manuel Delia with two blogposts carried on his website in 2023.

“This is not freedom of expression, this is abuse,” Mr Justice Lawrence Mintoff said in his judgment.