People gather early on the granaries despite the rain

People started to gather early on the granaries for the Papal Mass this morning.

Undeterred by light but continuous rain, several hundred people, huddled under umbrellas, had already taken the front rows allocated for the public, at 7.30 a.m. Some were there at 6 a.m. carrying folding chairs.

Among the people who were on the granaries early were a number of Gozitans who left Gozo at 4 a.m.

The Pope is due to arrive on the granaries shortly after 9.30 a.m. The Popemobil will proceed to St Publius Church and the Pope will then walk among the crowd to the altar, which has been decorated with hundreds of plants and flowers.