President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said today that she would be meeting parish priests and local councils and encouraging them to develop means how the community could show more solidarity with elderly people.

Speaking at the traditional meeting of the head of state with the community of Floriana on the feast of St Publius, Ms Coleiro Preca that St Publius was an example of Maltese hospitality and solidarity.

He was not afraid of the people who had landed in Malta, who had included St Paul. He was not suspicious of them, he did not judge them, but offered them love and hospitality, an example which continued to apply to this day. 

Ms Coleiro Preca noted that Floriana has an ageing population and said she would discuss with local councils and parish priests how communities could show more solidarity with elderly people among them. Families could, for example, 'adopt' an elderly person, looking after his or her needs, or invite him or her for lunch on the feast day.

Those present for the reception, held at Vilhena band club, included Archbishop Paul Cremona, MPs and former President George Abela.