A logistical nightmare but a great occasion is how the postulator in the cause of Blessed Gorg Preca has described tomorrow's canonisation ceremony at St Peter's Basilica, in Rome.
Mgr Charles Scicluna tells The Times in an interview today: "The square is so beautiful and unique - to have Blessed Gorg's picture hanging from the façade of St Peter's is the greatest dream the Maltese people can have.
"If the canonisation ceremony had been in Malta, we would have missed this great opportunity."
Pilgrims have been flocking to Rome since last Thursday and over 5,000 are expected to have landed by the time the ceremony, led by Pope Benedict XVI, gets underway at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Blessed Gorg, the founder of the Society for Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) will be canonised along with three others: Charles of St Andrew from the Netherlands, Simon of Lipnica from Poland and Sister Marie Eugenie of Jesus from France.
Maltese concelebrants will include Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca.
About 100 priests from Malta and Gozo are also expected to attend as well as an official delegation led by President Eddie Fenech Adami. The delegation will include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.
Mgr Scicluna said the ceremony will begin with the litany of the saints, as the Pope prays for guidance so that he may exercise his full authority to declare the new saints. Then Cardinal Saravia Martins, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, together with the postulators, will ask the Pope to canonise the four Blesseds.
After canonisation, the relics of the saints are brought to the altar and venerated before Mass continues.
"So canonisation is the big, important part just at the beginning of the ceremony," Mgr Scicluna said.
There will also be a special moment for the six-year-old boy who inexplicably recovered from liver failure in 2001 - after a glove used in Dun Gorg's exhumation was placed on him - as he will receive his first holy communion from the Pope.
Ever since the healing, which occurred after Dun Gorg was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 9, 2001, the boy's family have wished to remain anonymous.
Dun Gorg, who died at the age of 82 in 1962, embarked on the road to sainthood when a civil servant, Charles Zammit Endrich, claimed his detached retina was inexplicably healed after he placed a shoelace belonging to the priest under his pillow. The incident was declared a miracle due to the intercession of the Maltese priest in 2000.
The second miracle involving the baby boy - which is required for canonisation - was officially pronounced by the Pope last February.
ID documents
Air Malta customers travelling to Rome for the canonisation of Blessed Gorg Preca have been advised to ensure they have in possession a valid government ID card or passport when travelling. Passengers with expired ID cards will not be allowed to travel.