A delegation of 116 Italians, including Benedictine monks and 26 choir members, arrived in Malta yesterday to take part in the annual event of peace, hope and fraternity, known as the Benedictine Torch.

The torch will be lit during a celebration of Mass to be held today at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta at 5.30 p.m. after the Benedictine Order chose Malta for this event.

Mgr Pietro Vittorelli, Arch-abbot of Monte Cassino Abbey, and Mgr Renato Boccardo, Archbishop of Spoleto, Norcia, will concelebrate. Mass will be animated by the Benedictine Choir of Monte Cassino.

The Benedictine Torch will be lit by Archbishop Paul Cremona just after the Communion rite. After the celebration of Mass, a re-enactment will be held outside St John’s Co-Cathedral.

The Benedictine Torch will then be taken to Auberge de Castille where it will be welcomed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. European Commission Vice-president Antonio Tajani will also be attending this celebration.

On March 14, the torch will be taken to the Vatican to be blessed by the Pope Benedict XVI, before going to the Shrine of St Benedict in Monte Cassino on March 20.

Every year, since 1964, the torch is the main feature of a pilgrimage beginning from the city chosen to light the torch and ending in Monte Cassino (Rome) at the Shrine of St Benedict.

In 1964, when St Benedict was proclaimed Patron Saint of Europe, it was decided that the lighting of a torch would take place annually in various countries, to represent European unity.

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