Archbishop Paul Cremona this evening lit the Benedictine Torch during Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The Benedictine Order chose Malta for the annual event of peace, hope and fraternity.

Concelebrating with the Archbishop were Mgr Pietro Vittorelli, Archabbot of Monte Cassino Abbey, and Mgr Renato Boccardo, Archbishop of Spoleto, Norcia.

Mass was animated by the Benedictine Choir of Monte Cassino.

The Torch was then taken to Auberge de Castille where it was welcomed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. European Commission Vice-president Antonio Tajani also attended the 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.