Archbishop Charles Scicluna gave a message of hope during the Feast of Assumption mass on Thursday, saying that one should strive to have the strong hope Mary of Nazareth felt in God.

Scicluna spoke in the mass of the Santa Marija feast celebrated on 15 August in the Mosta Basilica, which was attended by several Ministers, as well as European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Speaker Anglu Farrugia, and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech.

The Archbishop's homily centred around hope, where he recounted Mary's journey of love and charity while pregnant with Jesus. He said that Mary lived God's word with certainty, belief and hope.

He quoted a description of Mary made by the late Pope Benedict XVI, that Mary was the "star of our hope." Scicluna said that current Pope Francis wishes that for the 2025 Jubilee, there are more pilgrims of hope, the hope which reminds everyone of God's mercy and promises.

Scicluna said that Mary lived with hope in difficult situations, hence why she is a star of hope.

Scicluna said that Mary was persecuted in her time, in addition to her being a young mother. He said that when Jesus started his mission on spreading God's word, they were faced with adversity, yet the hope Mary had in God remained.

On the Feast of Assumption, Scicluna said that we should look at the holy city of Jerusalem, which was always plagued with conflicts, and recognise that there are two holy things, the empty tomb of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.

He said that both the resurrections are a clear sign that a better destiny is waiting for all those who died. Scicluna said that the hope in God will help people realise that death is not an appointment with darkness, and is not the end, but it is the eternal destiny.