Politics knows no colours when it comes to religion, as evidenced yesterday by the procession marking the transfer of the reliquary holding the blood of St Gorg Preca to the Granaries in Floriana and to the MUSEUM chapel in Blata l-Bajda.

All political and social creeds joined together yesterday evening in a demonstration of adoration for Malta’s first saint.

Some 8,000 seats had been prepared at the Granaries, while some 40 priests were assembled to give Holy Communion.

Amongst the thousands on hand for the occasion were Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant, President Eddie Fenech Adami, Speaker of the House of Representatives Anton Tabone and Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano, as well as various ministers and parliamentarians.

After being returned from Rome following the canonisation of St Gorg Preca, the reliquary had been brought to a number of Gozitan parishes for veneration by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

It was returned to Malta on Wednesday, when it was handed over to Archbishop Paul Cremona by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech. The reliquary was then brought to St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, where it had remained until 7pm yesterday evening.

Yesterday’s procession followed the reliquary as it was transported from St John’s Co-Cathedral to the Granaries in Floriana, where a Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Mgr Cremona. Other concelebrants included Gozo Archbishop Mgr Mario Grech, Archbishop Emeritus Mgr Joseph Mercieca, Mgr Annetto Depasquale, Mgr Felix del Bianco Preto and Mgr Pawlu Giglio.

The reliquary was then transported to the MUSEUM chapel in Blata l-Bajda for public veneration, where will remain until this evening, after which the reliquary will be brought to the St Gaetano Hamrun parish, where it will be permanently held.

Activities marking St Gorg Preca’s canonisation will continue next week, including an oratorio on the evening of Friday, 15 June at St John's Co-Cathedral, while another oratorio will be held on the evening of Sunday, 17 June.