The Laudate Pueri Choir of St George’s Basilica, Gozo, met and sang for Pope Francis on Sunday in Rome.

Following the Angelus, as Pope Francis walked from St Peter’s Square towards Casa Santa Marta, Mgr Joseph Farrugia, Archpriest Emeritus and founder of the Choir, presented him with a modern painting of St George, the Patron Saint, in the presence of both Bishop Mgr Mario Grech and Archpriest Mgr Pawlu Cardona, Mgr Alfred Xuereb and director Can. George J. Frendo.The Pope found the time to greet the members of the Choir personally, together with their relatives accompanying the group and sent gifts to both St George’s Basilica and Il-Hagar Museum.

The Choir sang “Naduraw, ja Hobz tas-Sema” and “Magnificat” for him. After blessing all, His Holiness said he looked forward to listenening to their singing on Monday.The Laudate Pueri Choir sang together with the Pontifical Choir of the Sistine Chapel, on Monday morning, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, at a High Mass presided over by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica at 10.00am and which was broadcast live on Rai 1 and TV2000.

The Choir also performed a recital of sacred a cappella motets ranging from the Renaissance to the contemporary, which took place at the Chiesa di Sant’Anna at the Vatican on Saturday.

The recital was accorded the distinguished patronage of the Pontificio Consiglio della Cultura headed by H.E. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi. H.E. Cardinal Prospero Grech, guest of honour and patron, together with H.L. Mgr Mario Grech.

Photographs – St George’s Basilica.

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