This summer the American Martyrs Church Children's Choir joined the Los Angeles Women's Chorus for four performances in Italy.

First stop for the Manhattan Beach ensemble was St. Peter's Basilica where the choirs sang as the principal choirs at a Solemn Mass presided over by a Vatican Monsignor. Later that evening the choirs performed at a formal public concert at St. Ignatius Church in downtown Rome.

The following day the choir members traveled to Assisi where they toured the ancient city and sang at a Mass in the Basilica of St. Francis.

To end an exciting week the choirs sang "Jubilate Deo" as an opening song for a special Holy Mass for the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, which was celebrated by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square before a crowd of over 5,000 people. The following day the choir performed a lively verse of "I'm Gonna Sing O Lord" at a Papal Audience.

A highlight for many of the children was the opportunity to perform for Pope John Paul II.

"I liked the concert at St. Ignatius Church the best," said choir member J.T. Gryder. "It was good to see the pope. He looked younger than I thought."

"[The pope] is old but he is sweet," said Brigid Breen. "He was happy to see us kids."

"I loved hearing the pope say the Mass," said Conor Dawson. "I loved seeing the pope and maybe the future pope, with all the cardinals and bishops there with him."

In addition to their performances American Martyrs choir members were able to visit the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, the Catacombs, the Coliseum and numerous churches and historical sites, as well as taking a day long trip to Assisi which included a lengthy tour and spectacular lunch overlooking the Umbrian countryside.