A group of 27 residents of Dar tal-Providenza will be meeting Pope Francis in Rome on Sunday as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the setting up of the residential home for people with disabilities.

The group travels to Rome on Friday accompanied by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop Emeritus aul Cremona, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the Home’s management and a number of carers.

On Saturday, the Anniversary day of the Home, a Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Scicluna at the Basilica of San Paolo Fuori Le Mura. Also invited to attend the Mass will be Maltese living in Rome including Malta’s Ambassador to Rome, Vanessa Frazier.

On Sunday morning, the group will attend Mass celebrated by the Archbishop in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica over St. Peter’s tomb. Following the recitation of the Angelus the residents and the rest of the group will be meeting Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta.

For the meeting with the Pope, the residents have prepared a book with writings and drawings of their own as well as some agricultural products grown at the St Isidor Agriculture Centre at Id-Dar tal-Providenza.