Monday, April 24, the liturgical feast of St George Martyr this year, marked another red-letter day in the history of the St George's Basilica of Victoria. For the second time the Vatican's prestigious Sistine Chapel Choir gave a concert of sacred music to a packed basilica. The day before, the choir performed in St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The congregation was led by Bishop Mario Grech, Archpriest Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia, 35 ambassadors accredited to the Holy See and their wives, Knights of Malta, a personal representative of Pope Benedict XV1, and a number of other dignitaries from the Church and civil administration.

The concert, which lasted an hour, included works by Palestrina, Victoria, Perosi, Bartolucci, and Liberto. The latter composer, Mgr Giuseppe Liberto, is the director of the Sistine Chapel Choir.

The Vatican choir has a special affiliation with the basilica of St George and the Laudate Pueri choir. At the end of the concert, photos of the two choirs were taken while gifts were presented by the St George's Archpriest on behalf of the Basilica Chapter.

A reception was later held at the new parish complex within the precincts of the basilica.