The swearing-in ceremony of Dr Robert Abela as Prime Minister has taken place this afternoon. He becomes the eighth Prime Minister to take office since Malta’s Independence.

The ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace in Valletta and Dr Abela was sworn in by President George Vella, who had previously in the day received the resignation letter from former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The Bishops of Malta and Gozo expressed their “best wishes and blessings to the new Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Robert Abela.”

In a statement the Bishops also reiterated their commitment that the various initiatives and cooperation between Church and State, “continue in a spirit of respect for reciprocal autonomy and mutual collaboration for the common good.”

Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, Bishop Mario Grech and Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi appealed to “all Christians in our country to pray for these intentions.”

Photograph: DOI/Jason Borg

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