The Office of the President said this afternoon that President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca did not attend yesterday's canonisation of two Popes because of the launch of a series of meetings on immigration, which are being held at San Anton Palace.

The presidency was the catalyst to bring together representatives of the government and Maltese institutions, NGOs and Church organisations along with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration.

The office said such meetings should lead to greater recognition of Malta's needs in this sector and concrete assistance now and in the eventuality of some humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean.

The office said it was preparing for an official call which the President will made on Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning that the government was represented by Speaker Anglu Farrugia and his own wife Michelle.

BUSUTTIL EXPLAINS HIS ABSENCE

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil when questioned in Fgura, said he had been invited to join the government's delegation but could not do so because of the electoral campaign and a private family engagement. However the PN was represented by one of its deputy leaders.