The country united in a sad farewell this morning to Inez Gonzi, the Prime Minister's mother, who died suddenly on Sunday-Monday night.

President Eddie Fenech Adami led a large congregation which packed the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mr Carmel in Valletta, a church which the main celebrant, Fr Martin Schembri OC, described as Mrs Gonzi's second home.

The Prime Minister and his brother and sisters stood alongside their father Gigi.

Some 60 concelebrants joined in the funeral mass, with Archbishop Paul Cremona, the Apostolic Nuncio, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca standing on the altar.

The congregation, which spilled from the huge church onto the street, included the Chief Justice, the Speaker, ministers, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, former Opposition leader Alfred Sant and members of the administrations of all political parties, former Presidents and members of the diplomatic corps.

Fr Martin paid tribute to Mrs Gonzi for the values she upheld throughout her life and said that up to last Friday she led a 90-minute adoration in that same church.

She lived by the motto that one had to live without arrogance and pretensions and by the Carmelite rule, finding strength in prayer.