Our Lady of Mount Carmel sanctuary, in Valletta was consecrated by Archbishop Charles Scicluna after a €500,000 marble paving job that took six months to complete.

The church had never been consecrated before, a Curia spokesman said. It had originally been built in 1570 but was badly damaged during World War II and was rebuilt.

In his homily, Mgr Scicluna pointed out that it was no coincidence that Valletta was currently the European Capital of Culture.

“This is a cry for European culture to continue the call it has made over the past 2,000 years: asking for God to remain with us,” he said.

Admiring what went into building the church’s altar and the marble works was pointless if the congregation did not recognise God’s strength in helping others, the Archbishop told the congregation.

“Our journey in life is over in a few years’ time but there are things waiting for us beyond,” he said.

“This altar is a symbol of what awaits us. It is the furniture that God gave man.”

Mgr Scicluna said the 12 pillars of the church should be a reminder of the apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna consecrating the sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Valletta.