Valletta's archpriest, Canon David Cilia, has said "coordinated attacks" against him, the deputy parish priest, and another person who was present for the feast celebrations, were aimed to keep people away from attending celebrations for the feast of Saint Paul.

Calling these attacks "an attempt to intimidate" his community, Archpriest Canon David Cilia said that "the presence of thousands of people during the entire day of the feast, in spite of the wintry weather, shows that the people did not take the bait and showed where their hearts beat."

In his statement, the archpriest expressed his disappointment in Valletta's mayor, Olaf McKay, as well as councillor Ray Azzopardi, and the local council's Executive Secretary, Gabriella Agius.

Speaking about mayor McKay, archpriest Cilia noted with regret that the mayor did not attend the feast reception, thus becoming "the first mayor since the establishment of the Valletta Local Council, who did not attend the Pontifical of St Paul's."

He added that during the week of the feast, specifically on 4 February 2025, McKay issued a statement of his own regarding the restoration of the façade of St Paul's Shipwreck Parish Church.

"This behaviour of the mayor is divisive because it is understood that he is boycotting any invitation made to him by our side, while he says that he wants to bring unity to Valletta," Cilia said.

Concluding his statement, the archpriest, on behalf of his parish, expressed his gratitude towards the capital city's ex-mayor Alfred Zammit for supporting the parish's ongoing façade restoration, as well as Labour Party Deputy Leader and MEP Alex Agius Saliba, and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, who he said are working to find "an equitable solution." He also expressed his thanks towards the Planning Authority for financing the project and the Valletta councillors who have shown their support.