Procession of St. Anthony's Triumphal Chariot which, after two years, will soon return to parade in all its splendour through the streets of the city centre, at the end of the solemn celebration presided over by Msgr. Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro, secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and apostolic administrator of Piana degli Albanesi; together with him, the rector of St. Anthony's basilica, Father Mario Magro, and the religious of the city's Rogationist communities.
The faithful from Messina and Calabria have already begun to crowd the basilica and Via S. Cecilia where, after the procession, the Night of St Anthony will take place this evening, with the lighting of the illuminations, the parade of the 'Friends of Music' band from Larderia and performances by street artists in the streets adjacent to the sanctuary. Also awaited is the mayor of Messina Federico Basile, who, just a few hours after his official inauguration, announced his presence at one of the Strait city's most heartfelt religious events.
Messina, a city rich in history and centuries-old religious traditions, each year renews its great devotion and the moving tribute to one of the world's most beloved saints, St. Anthony of Padua, the saint of miracles.
Every year in June, Messina welcomes a huge number of faithful who parade before the image of St. Anthony of Padua, in the Basilica dedicated to the saint. It is estimated that about 100,000 faithful gather, from early morning until late at night, to express a heartfelt homage to the saint.

The Sunday of the event, the procession draws thousands of faithful who follow the statue of the saint, decorated with votive gold and flowers, over a sphere representing the world, surrounded by children dressed as sailors on a wagon 6 meters high: the triumphal chariot of St. Anthony, which runs through the entire city, driven by barefoot men and women, dressed in the Franciscan habit, weeping with emotion and remembrance for the grace received and the joy of being able to honor the saint.