And in Malta, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the Mediterranean island nation. This is Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat: “I think it’s a historic vote. It shows that our democracy and our society is maturing, has reached an unprecedented level of maturity, and it’s a society where we can all say we are equal.”

Malta is a predominantly Roman Catholic country that has in recent years seen a rapid shift away from its conservative roots. Until 2011, Malta was just one of three nations where divorce was illegal.