Archbishop Charles Scicluna has voiced doubt as to whether putting more money in people’s pockets will automatically translate into more babies in Mater Dei’s maternity ward, despite having previously called for “concrete action” to tackle Malta’s rock-bottom fertility rate.

Speaking to WhosWho.mt following Finance Minister Clyde Caruana’s announcement of a bumper tax-cut for families with children, the Archbishop made it clear that “addressing the low birth rate is not just a question of fiscal measures.”

The tax cut, part of Malta’s Government Budget for 2026, will affect over 60,000 parents who stand to save a maximum of €10,000 per year, depending on their income levels and number of children.

Archbishop Scicluna makes it clear that he is “supportive of measures that promote the concept of family and benefit the most needy in our society, provided they are effective, equitable and sustainable.”

“However,” he continues, “addressing the low birth rate is not just a question of fiscal measures. It is equally important to promote a culture that treasures the gift of children and preserves Maltese identity.”

The leader of Malta’s Catholic Church has been sounding the alarm over the low number of births, often using the opportunities afforded by national holidays to exhort politicians to take the issue seriously.

In 2024’s Republic Day celebrations, which also marked the 50th anniversary of Malta’s republican constitution, Archbishop Scicluna pointed out that the country’s birth rate stood far below the replacement rate of 2.1.

“We are duty-bound to ask ourselves – who will represent the Maltese identity and wave the national colours of our country when our generation comes to an end,” he told a congregation featuring the President, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna speaking during Malta's Republic Day 2024 celebration at St John's Co-Cathedral

He raised the matter again during this year’s Victory Day celebrations, putting the low birth rate alongside greed and addiction are the three “enemies” the country must overcome today.

Warning of the “ethnic extinction” of the Maltese, the Archbishop warned that “what our enemies failed to do, we are inflicting on ourselves.”

Such comments provided the backdrop to the Government’s dedication of around €160 million – a huge portion of Maltese government spending – to reverse the trend and encourage local couples to grow their families.