Archbishop Charles Scicluna on Sunday urged the Maltese people to reject the “logic of destruction” and instead embrace a “logic of peace and reconciliation,” as he celebrated mass to mark Remembrance Day at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The mass was attended by President Myriam Spiteri Debono and other top state officials, who gathered to honour the victims of war.

It was preceded by a Guard of Honour for the President by the Armed Forces of Malta.

In his homily, the Archbishop commemorated the millions who died in the two World Wars but also urged prayers for the victims of today’s ongoing wars around the world.

“Today we remember so many innocent people whose temples of life and dreams were destroyed, torn down through violence by those who believe they have a right over the lives of others,” he said.

Scicluna said that as the word Jerusalem is a symbol of the ideal, the earthly Jerusalem itself continues to suffer tensions that have lasted for thousands of years.

Concluding his message, Scicluna invited those present to reflect and ask what they are doing to promote peace.

“What are we doing to destroy the logic of destruction? So that in our hearts, in our society, and in the international community, another logic may prevail - the logic of peace and reconciliation,” Scicluna said.

Later that morning, the President, Prime Minister Robert Abela, Leader of the Opposition Alex Borg, Speaker Anglu Farrugia, and other officials laid wreaths on the War Memorial in Floriana to commemorate the occasion.

The Armed Forces of Malta's contingent at the ceremony was joined by the Malta Police Force contingent, together with the AFM Band, ex-Servicemen and Associations Standard Bearers and Escorts.

On the arrival of the President, the AFM GSM ordered the Cenotaph Guard to rest arms, reverse, and the Last Post was sounded by the AFM trumpeters.

A gunfire salute was sounded and the Reveille was played, followed by a Poppy Drop by the AFM's Britten Norman BN-2T Islander, to mark the occasion.