• A group of 27 residents of Dar tal-Providenza. together with their carers, met with Pope Francis this morning near Casa Santa Marta, right after the recital of the Angelus for those gathered in St Peter’s Square. They were accompanied by Archbishop Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona OP, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Dar tal-Providenza, administration and carers from the home. The Pope spoke to, shook hands and chatted with the residents and even hugged resident Frankie Bonello who had just presented the Pontiff with a white Papal Skull Cap on behalf of all the residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

    Notwithstanding that he had just recited the Angelus in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis stopped in front of the Maltese pilgrims and prayed with them and gave them his blessing.

    This meeting couldn’t haved been more emotional and a lot of tears were shed. Naturally, this was not an easy trip for the Siġġiewi home to take twenty-seven residents, most of them wheelchair bound, as part of the celebrations to coimmemorate the 50th Anniversary of its founding by Dun Mikiel Azzopardi on 12th September 1965.

    Earlier, Archbishop Scicluna celebrated mass in the crypt of St Peter, in front of his tomb under the main altar at the Vatican.