Tessie Fleri and Fredu Borg were accompanied abroad by Sister Bertha Bezzina, left, and Sister Lorenza Borg. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

When 16-year-old Martina Fenech stood among the millions of people in St Peter’s Square, Rome, for the inauguration Mass of Pope Francis, she felt “as though I’m going to Heaven”.

Accompanied by her father, Albert, Martina said it was hard to describe the atmosphere while standing among all those people.

“It’s a feeling of immense happiness,” she said.

Together with another three children from Puttinu Cares and two residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi, Martina flew to the Vatican City last week on the Prime Minister’s invitation and was one of many Maltese nationals who attended the inauguration of the new pontiff, who succeeded Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who resigned in mid-February.

“When I saw the white smoke on television (which signalled that a Pope had been chosen) I told my father that we should be there,” she said.

But she never expected to receive an invitation from Puttinu Cares to go and thought she was “dreaming” when her father called to give her the good news.

When her father received the offer to go to Rome, he called Martina to make sure that she did not have any O-level exams scheduled for the next day.

The atmosphere during the ceremony was one of “great peace” and “calm” where thousands of people came together from different countries to celebrate the Pope’s inauguration. Martina was lucky enough to have a good place in the central part of the square with the Pope in sight.

She waved the Maltese flag, lifting it high. “I was honoured to represent Malta there and be with all those people flying the flags of other countries,” she said.

Martina said she was “very impressed” with the new Pope.

“I think it will be amazing that, later on, when I grow older, I’ll be able to look back and say that I was there when he was inaugurated,” she said.

“The atmosphere was amazing. It was similar to the one of the London Olympics where thousands of people from different nations came together,” her father said.

During Mass and when Pope Francis spoke, “the silence was so great, you could have heard a pin drop. It was beautiful. We didn’t want it to end,” he said.

Mr Fenech acknowledged that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and thanked all those who made the visit possible.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza residents Fredu Borg, 76, and Tessie Fleri, 60, also enjoyed the visit to St Peter’s Square and the inaugural Mass.

They were accompanied by Sister Bertha Bezzina and Sister Lorenza Borg.

Mr Borg and Ms Fleri said they enjoyed the experience of being in the square and seeing Pope Francis on the large screens.

Ms Fleri liked the new Pope, saying he looked like a good man.

“I also enjoyed being on the airplane,” Mr Borg said.

Sr Bezzina said she thought the new pontiff was the right Pope for today’s times. “I think Pope Francis will help the people to rekindle their faith,” Sr Borg said.