Lawmakers have to have the courage to take the tough decisions needed - even if the fruit of those decisions is only apparent after our electoral mandate is over, Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said. “That's how we hand the next generation a better place than we inherited, those are the politicians our world needs”, she added when speaking at a high-level conference at the Vatican.

MEP Metsola said that Pope Francis pushes forward ideas surrounding social justice, and a system where everybody is given what they are entitled to. “Pope Francis’ teachings mirror many principles of modern day Christian Democracy. He speaks up against wrongdoing and corruption in particular. And always invites us politicians to ensure that, in every decision we take, we keep in mind those in need and those emarginated. We have to build societies where no one is left behind,” she said. 

At the end of the conference, MEP Metsola had an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis and passed on greetings from the people of Malta and Gozo.