George Abela yesterday spoke of a sympathetic society where there was room for everyone, irrespective of a person's state or culture, as he was sworn in as Malta's eighth President yesterday.

Addressing the guests gathered at the Palace's Grand Council Chamber to watch him take the oath of office, the new President looked visibly moved and humbled by the overwhelming support he received.

"I'm very emotional and happy at the way I've been received," Dr Abela said, before walking into the Palace for the ceremony to take over at the helm from outgoing President Eddie Fenech Adami.

Dr Abela is the first President to come from a political party that is not in government. However, although the motion to nominate him was unanimously approved in Parliament last Wednesday, former Labour leader Alfred Sant and former deputy leader George Vella snubbed the event yesterday.

When contacted by The Sunday Times, Dr Vella insisted he did not need to justify his absence, while Dr Sant - who had objected to Guido de Marco and Dr Fenech Adami becoming President because of their political background - refused to comment.

On the other hand, Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who had also spoken out against the nomination, attended the ceremony along with his colleagues.

Ironically, five years ago Dr Abela's name was bandied about as a possible presidential candidate, but Labour had felt he was "too young and would not fit into the father figure required by the position".

Now, at 60, he seems to have slipped easily into the role, oozing plenty of charm and steering clear of controversial questions.

Nothing was going to mar the historic moment for Dr Abela and his wife Margaret, who soldiered on wearing gold-coloured high heels despite her badly sprained ankle that was tightly bandaged after an incident at home the night before.

She watched with pride as Speaker Louis Galea countersigned the oath at 12.15 p.m. and the sound of trumpets heralded the official moment - they were now the country's first couple, a role she would have to adjust to since she has never been in the public eye.

In his first public address as President, Dr Abela spoke of a society that must change and that was in fact changing with the times, about minorities' interests, but also about how strong families made a strong nation.

"Not all the changes which we will face are acceptable to everyone all the time. Like every society throughout the ages, we could well be faced with more minority situations and interests," he said.

"The way in which these minority situations and interests become manifest and are faced, is a measure of our democratic credentials in a context where it is necessary and just to uphold and strengthen our traditional values, among which is the value of the family, which I consider to be foremost," he said.

At the same time, he felt there should always be a common interest that transcended everything else and united everyone as a nation.

Inspired by the quote Malta's first President Sir Anthony Mamo had made when taking office - "everyone has a role to play in our society, whatever his background" - Dr Abela said these words remained valid to this day.

"These are words I will continue to treasure and act upon, in the same way that I will strive to follow the good example of all those who served in the Presidency," he said, turning to acknowledge former presidents Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Guido de Marco and Dr Fenech Adami, who were sitting behind him.

President Emeritus Ċensu Tabone was too unwell to attend the ceremony, so Dr Abela decided to pay him a visit at his home later in the evening.

Overwhelmed by a sense of humility, yet eager to move ahead, Dr Abela spoke about his intention to maintain special contact with the people, especially youngsters, the elderly, those with special needs and the voluntary sector.

Prior to the official ceremony, Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Paul Cremona at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, which was packed for the occasion.

Dr Abela's family played a role in the celebration. His son Robert read the first reading and his daughter Maria, a soprano who is studying in Milan, sang Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus during Holy Communion.

Dr Abela's first official appointment will be a visit to the Arka Foundation in Gozo today, where he will help answer phone calls during its fundraising marathon.