Letters to the editor – March 17, 2026

Questionable papal visit

Emily Barbaro-Sant of Mosta writes:

The photo showing disgraced prime minister Joseph Muscat and his extended family with Pope Leo XIV caught my attention when leafing through the pages of The Sunday Times of Malta (March 8). The image accompanied the article ‘Not even the pope is safe’, by Kevin Cassar.

Joseph Muscat and his family with Pope Leo. Photo: Joseph Muscat/Facebook

The photo shocked me and I couldn’t help asking some questions to myself. How dare he? Who made this visit possible? Who paid the expenses for this visit? 

Other questions came to mind too. How was Muscat introduced to the pope? Did he tell the pope he defrauded the entire nation? Did he tell the holy father he stands charged with serious crimes? Did Muscat tell the pontiff that he is responsible for the culture of impunity that spread all over the country?

How I wish I could have an answer to these questions.

On the other hand, could it be that Muscat is feeling sorry for all the harm done during his tenure of office, made an act of contrition and, while at the Vatican, asked the pope’s forgiveness? Whatever it was, I sincerely believe that Pope Leo XIV should have never been put in such an embarrassing situation.

Labour needs treatment

Anthony Saliba of St Paul’s Bay writes:

As happens in all ailments, immediate action is taken by the medical professionals once the alarm is triggered. 

Nowadays, the earlier one realises that something is wrong within his body, the greater the chances are that the sick person will be healed.

This cannot be said in the case of the Labour Party (PL), which is inflicted by ailments from top to bottom. 

A series of corruption cases, resignations in government high positions, the atrocious direct orders exceeding the legal limits plus other squandering of our money to appease the few that have been favoured for the past 13 years make the wounds in the PL’s inner organs so hard to cure.

My opinion is that it is now too late for the body to recover. Day in, day out, by word of mouth, the Labour Party keeps regurgitating itself.

Obviously, this is all due to the Nationalist Party, or so they say.

Time will tell.