The first of two groups of altar boys – 25 in all – from various parishes in Malta and Gozo recently paid a visit to the Vatican in Rome. The boys had the daily duty to serve during Masses at St Peter’s Basilica and used to wake up at 5.45am to prepare, so that by 6.30am they would be ready to see to the numerous altars (over 20) in the basilica.

By 7am, numerous priests would come to the sacristy and the boys would help them dress and accompany each of them to the respective altar where Mass was said.

This experience proved to be an excellent opportunity for the boys to receive a spiritual boost and even sparked vocational discernment. In fact, numerous seminarians and priests had this experience in the past when they themselves served as altar boys.

This year being the first year of Pope Francis’s papacy, the altar boys had the opportunity to meet him. After the Angelus held at St Peter’s Square, on the way back to his residence at Santa Martha, the Pope called the altar boys so that he could meet them and speak to them.

This was another spiritual experience, where all could note the humbleness and humility of the Pope. Upon a request from one of the boys, the Pope also signed the distinctive ‘fascia’ of the Vatican altar boys.

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