Archbishop Charles Scicluna has asked whether children growing up in Malta 50 years from now will still speak Maltese and feel connected to the country’s history, culture and identity.Addressing the State of the Nation conference at San Anton Palace, Scicluna invited those present to imagine a child being born in Malta half a century from today.Will that child still speak Maltese? Will they know the country’s history? And will they feel that they belong to a people with a shared culture, traditions and identity?For the Archbishop, the answers will depend heavily on the decisions Malta takes today.Scicluna argued that the country being left to future generations is already being shaped by present-day choices surrounding families, the economy, the environment, Malta’s institutions and its national values.He described Maltese identity as something entrusted to each generation rather than something that can simply be taken for granted.While acknowledging that Malta has been influenced and enriched by numerous cultures throughout its history, Scicluna said those influences have helped create a distinct Maltese identity which should now be preserved and passed on.His message also touched on migration.The Archbishop said people who come to Malta in good faith should be welcomed and treated with dignity, while also being encouraged to appreciate the country’s unique heritage and participate in the responsibilities that come with being part of Maltese society.However, Scicluna warned that protecting Malta’s identity also requires having a new generation to inherit it.He pointed towards the country’s alarmingly low birth rate as a serious challenge for Malta’s future, linking the demographic question to the survival of the country’s language, traditions and identity.Ultimately, Scicluna argued that Malta’s legacy cannot be measured through economic prosperity alone.The country, he said, must ensure that the generations who come after us inherit a Malta whose language, culture, institutions and values remain worthy of their trust.Do you think Maltese will still be Malta’s dominant language 50 years from now?•