A total of 5,056 Maltese pilgrims are expected in Rome on Sunday for the canonisation of Blessed Gorg Preca, who will become Malta’s first saint.

The Maltese organisers in Rome said they will include 200 priests, including 20 seminarians, 100 nuns, and about 800 who will be in the official MUSEUM group. With others who will be travelling privately, it is calculated there will be in all 5,056 pilgrims.

For the prayer vigil at Santa Maria Maggiore on Saturday evening, there will be about 3,750. About 2,500 may attend the thanksgiving Mass on Monday, as many will be returning to Malta during the day.