The National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra from Katowice, southern Poland, will perform during a thanksgiving mass for the beatification of Pope John Paul II in St Peter’s Square on Monday, 2 May.

The programme includes Krzysztof Penderecki’s Chaconne, written after the Pope’s death - Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki’s Beatus Vir, which was premiered in the Pope’s presence during his first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979, and Victoria composed by Wojciech Kilar.

The orchestra and three Polish choirs will be conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk.

Later in the day, the National Polish Radio SO will perform Missa Magna Beatificationis by the Polish composer Michal Lorenc in St Ignatius Loyola’s Church in Rome.

The concert will be the final event of the World Meeting of Polish Communities which is to be attended by over 3,000 people from close on 30 countries. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and many Polish bishops are expected to attend. (mk)