An Economy for the Common Good

Budget 2023: A Crucial Moment of Choice

The Justice and Peace Commission appreciates that the 2023 Budget is a Budget heavily conditioned by multiple crises.

While welcoming the numerous social measures announced, the Commission wishes to go beyond a simplistic commentary of individual budgetary measures, by inviting the Government to take on board four guiding principles that the Commission believes should serve as a guiding light in our choice of a socio-economic model which results in a more just, sustainable and reconciled society. 

Preferential option for the poor

Facing exceptional inflationary pressures, the Commission commends the Government for focusing its limited resources on those who have been worse hit by the cost-of-living crisis… Read more »

Artisans and builders of our common home

“You are called to become artisans and builders of our common home, a common home that is falling into ruin”. These words of Pope Francis still resounding in the ears of the young economists, entrepreneurs and changemakers who gathered in Assisi from the 22nd till the 24th of September to participate in the world event “Economy of Francesco” (EoF).

More than 1000 participants from more than 100 countries joined this event, initially planned to be held in March 2020 and then held online in November 2020 and October 2021… Read more »

Ethics in business: development and self-interest

On the 20th of October, 2022, the Gozo Business Chamber organised its second conference on ‘Ethics in Business’ which this year focused on ‘Development and Self-Interest’.

The keynote speech was delivered by Daniel Darmanin, president of the Justice and Peace Commission and coordinator of the local chapter of the Centesimus Annus Foundation. He spoke on the effect of development on our quality of life and the need to stop and reflect on the kind of society we want to live in… Read more »

Yahad presented to Pope Francis

During an international conference organized by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice foundation, Daniel Darmanin, president of the Justice and Peace Commission, and coordinator of the local chapter of the Centesimus Annus foundation, presented the Yahad booklet to Pope Francis. During this same meeting, Darmanin also presented this project to Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State, whilst explaining to him that through this initiative, the Justice and Peace Commission wished to invite Christians and all people of good will to reflect on how we can work together for a reconciled society, built on truth and justice… Read more »

Peace, integral ecology and synodality

The International workshop 2022 of Justice and Peace Europe took place in Assisi from the 7th until the 9th of October. Participants were welcomed by the Franciscan community and led into the opening prayer by a group of young people who are actively engaged in the Italian Justice and Peace Commission. Daniel Darmanin (President) and Mark Cachia (Executive Officer) attended this meeting on behalf of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Malta… Read more »

rethink.mt

To follow up on Pope Francis’ visit to Malta, the Archdiocese of Malta is launching a project titled: rethink.mt: Rethink culture.

rethink.mt is a space for respectful dialogue on complex issues shaping Maltese culture. Supported by the Vicariate for Evangelisation and hosted by Justice & Peace –Malta, discussions will take place with various people active in Maltese society about the kind of culture we are hoping to build together… Read more »

Catholic Social Teaching: a dialogue

Aħseb u Ara is a podcast hosted by the Malta Catholic Youth Network and the Justice and Peace Commission. This project is the result of a collaboration that began in 2021 and led to the Youth Engagement Study research, which was carried out in the same year.

The aim of these podcasts was to discuss themes from the Social Teaching of the Church… Read more »

A woman with a strong message for our times

On Saturday, the 24th of September, the Justice and Peace Commission, together with the Interdiocesan Environment Commission, organized an activity to celebrate the Season of Creation.

Around sixty people participated in this activity which was inspired by the figure of Saint Hildegard of Bingen a woman with a strong message for our times. The half-day event explored the life and work of this saint who in her time stood out for her contribution to the development of eco-spirituality… Read more »

Season of Creation: “Listen to the voice of creation”

“Listen to the voice of creation”. This is Pope Francis’ invitation in the message he issued on the occasion of this year’s Season of Creation (1st September to 4th October 2022). The Pope encourages us to listen carefully to the voice of creation: the voice of the planet and the voice of the people who live in it, voices that have long been silenced and put aside due to “predatory economic interests” that translate into destruction of the environment and misery for many people, especially the poor who are always the ones who suffer the most from the consequences of environmental destruction… Read more »

Asylum seekers’ struggle against poverty and exclusion

The steep rise in cost of living, including an exponential surge in rent prices, and stagnant wages are among the factors fostering poverty among asylum seekers in Malta, a report found.

The report authored by Julian Caruana and Alexia Rossi and published by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Malta and aditus foundation, with the support of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundationwas launched on Wednesday 13th of July… Read more »