Aqra bil- Malti

The sixth international tour of the Saint Lawrence Band Club of Vittoriosa, took the band and its fans to Rome where it was busy with services in various places linked to the life of the patron saint and even to St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican .

On the last Wednesday of April, amid blue skies and wonderful weather, the general audience of Pope Francis had a Maltese twist.

The band in St. Peter’s Square came from musicians of the St. Lawrence band club which was part of a contingent of 120 people who took part in a tour in Rome, The band welcomed Pope Francis with various hymns and popular marches of its repertoire.

After the general audience, the Committee of the Musical Society together with the band, the Archpriest Canon Carmelo Busuttil and Mayor John Boxall took a commemorative photo with Pope Francis. This private moment also served as an occasion for Archpriest Busuttil to present €6,000 to the Pope to buy a medical instrument for eye testing. This will be used in a clinic founded by the Pope where doctors take care of the lives of the poor.

On the eve of the audience with the Pope, the Maltese contingent took part in Lawrence International Day which brings together communities whose patron saint is Saint Lawrence. The Birgu band club performed a musical program in the square in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura. Among the engagements in Rome, the band played marches in the place where Saint Lawrence was martyred and in Amesano.