The group of 14 altar boys from Gozo and Malta, who are currently at Vatican City to offer liturgical services at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, met with Pope Francis on Sunday following the Angelus prayer.

They prayed together and Pope Francis gave them his blessing and asked them to pray for him. The 14 altar boys, including 10 from Gozo, then had their photo taken with the Pontiff.On Saturday morning in the Choir Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Gozitan altar boys held the symbolic ceremony of the Vestición with the red vestment, which was led by Mons. Maximilian Grech, a Gozitan priest who works in Diplomacy and who is serving in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican.

It started by reading the passage of Samuel’s call from the Old Testament and praying Psalm 23. Then Mons. Grech delivered a short message where he spoke about the importance of listening among the many distractions that children and young people face.

Afterwards, the altar boys made their vows, and after the sash was blessed, it was given to them so that they formally became altar boys of the Basilica of Saint Peter.On Sunday, the altar boys met the Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Peter Cardinal Mauro Gambetti OFMCONV when he consecrated on the Altar of the Cathedral.

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