"Before we are Nationalist or Labour, from Floriana or from Valletta, we are Maltese," President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said this morning, reiterating her call for unity.

“We are all related and we need to do our utmost to rise above impulsiveness and passion, and remember that we can only move forward as a united people. We cannot just be united occasionally, but we need to come together every hour of every day,” she said at the Vilhena Philharmonic Society Club in Floriana.

Accompanied by her husband Edgar Preca, the President was attending the annual reception with Archbishop Charles Scicluna on the occasion of the feast of St Publius.

Mgr Scicluna, who earlier celebrated Mass at the Floriana parish church, called on those present to cherish unity.

Meanwhile, Ms Coleiro Preca also drew parallels with the historical episode from St Publius’ life when he welcomed the shipwrecked crew which included prisoners.

Despite not knowing who they were, he welcomed them in his home, and his gesture of humanity was testament to the kindheartedness that the Maltese were known for, she said.

More than ever before, the Maltese needed to love one other, even those they disagreed with, Ms Coleiro Preca said, adding that loving those who loved you back was the easiest thing to do.

She also warned against indifference at the situation of conflict in the Mediterranean, adding that if we were careless and did not love each other enough, the Maltese could end up in the same situation.