Five thousand Maltese pilgrims will be travelling to Rome for the ceremony during which Blessed Gorg Preca will be made Malta’s first saint. The celebration will be led by Pope Benedict XVI outside St Peter’s Basilica on 3 June.

The organising committee in Malta said registrations closed at the end of last month. All those who registered will have a seat during the ceremony.

Tickets may be collected from the Liturgy Office of the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana between Monday and Friday 25 May from 8.30am to noon, and from 4.30 to 7pm. Pilgrims from Gozo may collect their ticket from the Bishop’s Curia in Victoria on Tuesday from 9am to noon.

The organisers said the pilgrims from Malta should have distinctive wear and with their ticket, pilgrims can collect a packet for the purpose. The packet includes a cap, a shawl, a badge and a booklet. The packet’s price has been brought down to Lm2 because the company Michele Peresso is sponsoring the booklet.

Pilgrims who booked their ticket for the canonisation with a travel agent should collect their ticket and packet from their booking agent during the meeting the agency will be holding for them.

The booklet will be used both for the ceremony in Rome, as well as for the celebration in Malta on 7 June. In Rome there will be three celebrations linked to the canonisation: on 2 June there will be a prayer evening, 3 June is canonisation day, and on 4 June, there will be Mass of Thanksgiving.

Those already in Rome will be able to collect their ticket from the convent at Vidone Square, 6, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, close to the church of Sant’Andrea delle Valle. The office will be open on 1 and 2 June from 9am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm.

The canonisation Mass starts at 10am. People holding a ticket will be allowed to their place from 8am.