St Benedict's College students see Pope Benedict during Rome visit

Forty-four students, attending 11 different schools belonging to St Benedict's College, accompanied by their teachers, recently visited Rome, Assisi and Perugia for an educational, cultural and above all, spiritual experience, which included a visit to the Vatican to see His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

After the Education Division gave permission for the visit to take place, several months of preparations ensued. The long awaited departure day of March 17 arrived. At the airport excitement could be seen on the faces of all the children, who were all from Years 5 or 6, and Forms 1 or 2. Most of them had never been abroad before. The students were all wearing a blue jacket and an orange cap with the name of the college embroidered on it.

In Rome, the group was accommodated at Mondo Migliore, a spiritual conference centre overlooking the breathtaking view of Lake Albano. We visited many historical places in the Eternal City. These included the Colosseum, the Fori Imperiali, the Jewish quarter and the Trastevere as well as the Campo Marzio surrounding the central focal point - the Pantheon.

Cold, rain and hail did not stop the group from queuing for over an hour to see the Vatican museums.

The group also visited the various famous squares in Rome, such as Piazza Navona, Piazza Colonna, Piazza Barberini, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo. While enjoying Italian ice creams, the group admired the beautiful fountains that adorn these squares. Students opted to keep to tradition and making a wish while throwing a coin over their shoulder into the Trevi fountain.

Mgr Paul Vella was both the group's spiritual director and guide. The students took a great interest in the historical information that he gave them about the places visited.

Mgr Vella took the group to different churches and basilicas, starting from the Paleo-Christian churches, such as the Basilica of San Clemente and ending with the four major basilicas - St Mary Major, St John Lateran, St Paul outside the Walls and St Peter's, where he later said Mass in Maltese for the group and other people present, at the altar of St Joseph.

Another place the students were eager to visit was Subiaco, where St Benedict started his monastic life. Here the students went into the cave where St Benedict used to live and pray. They also paid a visit to the Sacro Speco, the first Benedictine monastery.

This pilgrimage took us also to Assisi, the City of Peace, the city of St Francis of Assisi where Mgr Vella said Mass in the Chapel of Peace.

Two Maltese Franciscan brothers who are studying there, showed us round the basilicas, the crypt where St Francis is buried, and the monastery. We also went to the church of St Clare and the Porziuncola at Santa Maria degli Angeli. On our way back from Assisi to Mondo Migliore we stopped at Perugia where we had time to walk around and visit the cathedral.

The climax of our visit to Rome was reached on March 21, when we had the opportunity to see Pope Benedict XVI.

We arrived early at St Peter's square, carrying a large banner with the words "Kullegg San Benedittu, Malta". As His Holiness approached us on his Popemobile the students' and teachers' enthusiastic cheering and waving of the Papal and the Maltese flags was loud enough to attract the Pope's attention and benediction. This gave us all a sensation that we will never forget. The same cheering and waving of flags was repeated when our group was announced to those present.

To make this day more memorable, instead of the usual packed lunch, the students were taken for lunch in a restaurant which we all enjoyed and which ended with the whole group singing in the square.

Although the students got used to walking long distances during the visit, they also had the opportunity to experience travelling using the Underground and the tramvia.

All too soon we gathered for our last evening together. We had a small farewell party and goodbyes were exchanged, not without shedding a tear or two.

On our arrival back in Malta, we were cheered when we came out of Customs. Though all the students were eager to rejoin their families, at the same time they were sorry that they were going to part from their newfound friends.

We are sure that none of the 44 students or the teachers involved will ever forget this week. It was a pilgrimage which helped the group grow spiritually and also helped them make new friends, share experiences, learn to live together and at the same time, visit another country... It was a dream come true!

A word of gratitude goes to the various sponsors who helped ease the trip's financial burden on the children's families.