Archbishop of Malta Charles Scicluna said Saturday that Malta 'sorely needs' unity and peace for true reconciliation, which can only be achieved and welcomed through practicing sound judgment and mercy.

Scicluna spoke at a mass in St John's Cathedral in Valletta on the 60th anniversary since Malta gained its independence from the British, which celebrates the country's status as a sovereign and autonomous nation.

Among the attendees were President Myriam Spiteri Debono, Prime Minister Robert Abela and his wife Lydia, and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech and his wife Annemarie.

The activity will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Independence Day monument in Floriana. 

Scicluna based his homily on three phrases Maltese priest St Gorg Preca had conveyed, thanking God and asking for his forgiveness, and needing the Lord God.

"Thank you God, for moulding us through the centuries into a people with a rich heritage, a distinctive language, and with firmly-rooted culture and traditions that weave together our identity and define who we are," Scicluna said.

He thanked God for adorning the islands with great natural beauty, with endemic flora and fauna.

"Our natural harbours gave us the name Malat, meaning 'a safe harbour' and 'sheltered protection'. The sweetness of our bees' honey inspired the name Melite, meaning 'a land that yields fine honey,'" Scicluna said, thanking God for blessing Malta with the light of faith.

Scicluna thanked God for protecting our ancestors through the centuries, from sickness and epidemics, to hunger and wars.

"Thank you for the many Maltese and Gozitans who truly loved our land and gave their lives for the good of our people through politics, literature and the arts, science and archaeology, architecture, and various other trades and skills of the heart and mind," he said.

He continued to thank God for the tireless effort of our politicians, on all sides, who, over the past 60 years - despite many challenges -worked to help our country's institutions and economy fulfil the dream of sovereignty, social progress and essential development.

Scicluna continued to ask God for forgiveness for all the times people failed to thank him, and did not sufficiently appreciate the natural and historical heritage.

"Forgive us for all the times our hearts harboured bitterness toward one another and toward the brethren who came to visit us. Forgive us for when greed became the poison that guided us, when we stole instead of giving, destroyed instead of building, or built poorly solely for monetary gain," Scicluna said.

He asked God to "forgive us for every time we used politics as an occasion to reap personal profit and satisfy our ambition. Forgive us for the arrogance and the corruption that tarnish the glory of our nation. Forgive us for the violence in word and deed that even led to the murder of those whose voices caused discomfort, as well as of the innocent. Forgive us for every time we exploited the foreigner among us."

Scicluna said that the Maltese and Gozitans today need God to remind them how precious life is, and that the Ten Commandments are ten words of light that that teach us loyalty, faithfulness, purity, justice, truth and generosity - and that distance us from jealousy, violence, greed and harshness of heart.

"Lord God, we have attained political and institutional independence. Sixty years ago, the Maltese people chose to recognise the fruitful role of religion, along with the importance of religious freedom and freedom of worship," he said.

Scicluna said that the Maltese also chose to acknowledge fundamental human rights, and over these sixty years, our laws have continued to develop structures and systems that promote inclusion and safeguard the dignity of every human being.

"Lord God, bless these genuine efforts and remove all that shatters and breaks us, for we are in deep need of you," he said.

Scicluna said that Dun Ġorġ often invited his fellow Maltese and Gozitans to be 'Friends of the Gospel'.

"To be a friend of the Gospel means to love what Jesus loved and to detest what he detested. Jesus detested arrogance and vainglory and loved humility and meekness. He detested lies and violence, and loved truth and peace, purity and love," he said.

The Archbishop said that at the beginning of the year, the Bishops of Malta and Gozo proposed that the five blessings Dun Karm prayed in the Maltese National Anthem should guide our future choices: sound judgment, mercy, health, unity and peace.

"Unity and peace are the fruits of true reconciliation, something our country has talked about for decades and that it sorely needs. This reconciliation can only be achieved and welcomed through the practice of sound judgment and mercy," he said.

He pointed out that this year also marks the 50th anniversary of Malta becoming a Republic on 13 December 1974, which was another important chapter in the development of the nation.

"May these anniversaries be celebrations that instil in our people a strong sense of hope and optimism. May we grow in humility to work together as we face constant challenges," Scicluna said.

"May Malta continue to offer its contribution to the international community as a facilitator of dialogue and diplomacy, as a witness to the power of reason over the reasons of power," Scicluna said.

"May Malta continue to enjoy the sweetest light with which you, Lord, have blessed it," Scicluna said, pledging for the protection of Malta.