At 12:30pm today, in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the organizers and promotors as well as the artists who will take place in a special concert entitled Christmas in the Vatican tomorrow (Saturday, 16 December). The concert will take place in the Paul VI Hall and is being sponsored by the Congregation for Catholic Education. Proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Scholas Occurrentes Foundation and the worldwide Don Bosco Foundation.
Upon his arrival in the Clementine Hall, Pope Francis was welcomed with a Christmas song sung by the artists including the children who are part of the Piccolo Coro di Piazza Vittorio as well as the choir from the Art Voice Academy and the Hallelujah Gospel Singers. Then, the Secretary for the Congregation for Catholic Education, His Excellency, Angelo Vincenzo Zani briefly presented the reasons for the Concert and the institutions who are involved. The Holy Father then shared his speech before blessing all those who were present.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I welcome you to this meeting, which allows me to express to you my appreciation for your participation in the concert entitled Christmas in the Vatican, the proceeds of which will be donated in order to finance two projects aimed at helping children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Argentina. I greet and thank those who have promoted this event and those who will perform tomorrow night, as well as those who will take part, demonstrating in this way, their sensitivity to the needs of the poor and the disadvantaged who are asking for help and solidarity.
Christmas - we know - is a time for feelings, for participation, for a capacity to warm even the coldest hearts, to remove barriers of indifference toward our neighbours, to encourage openness toward others and toward a gift that is freely given. For this reason, we also need to spread the message of peace and fraternity that rightly belongs to the Christmas season; we must represent this event by expressing the authentic sentiments that it arouses. Art is a formidable means for opening the doors of the mind and the heart to the true meaning of Christmas. The creativity and geniality of the artists, with their work, as well as their music and song, manages to reach te most intimate registers of our consciences. Art enters into the intimacy of conscience.
I offer my best wishes that the Christmas Concert may be an occasion to sow tenderness - this word that is so often forgotten today! Violence, war ... no, no, tenderness - in order to sow tenderness, peace and welcome, the gifts that flow from the stable in Bethlehem. I reiterate my gratitude to each of you and, while I wish you all a cordial greeting for the serene celebration of Christmas, enriched by joy and peace, I bless each one of you, your families and those who are dear to you.
And please, don't forget to pray for me. Thank you!
Upon his arrival in the Clementine Hall, Pope Francis was welcomed with a Christmas song sung by the artists including the children who are part of the Piccolo Coro di Piazza Vittorio as well as the choir from the Art Voice Academy and the Hallelujah Gospel Singers. Then, the Secretary for the Congregation for Catholic Education, His Excellency, Angelo Vincenzo Zani briefly presented the reasons for the Concert and the institutions who are involved. The Holy Father then shared his speech before blessing all those who were present.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting with musicians and singers
Dear brothers and sisters,
I welcome you to this meeting, which allows me to express to you my appreciation for your participation in the concert entitled Christmas in the Vatican, the proceeds of which will be donated in order to finance two projects aimed at helping children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Argentina. I greet and thank those who have promoted this event and those who will perform tomorrow night, as well as those who will take part, demonstrating in this way, their sensitivity to the needs of the poor and the disadvantaged who are asking for help and solidarity.
Christmas - we know - is a time for feelings, for participation, for a capacity to warm even the coldest hearts, to remove barriers of indifference toward our neighbours, to encourage openness toward others and toward a gift that is freely given. For this reason, we also need to spread the message of peace and fraternity that rightly belongs to the Christmas season; we must represent this event by expressing the authentic sentiments that it arouses. Art is a formidable means for opening the doors of the mind and the heart to the true meaning of Christmas. The creativity and geniality of the artists, with their work, as well as their music and song, manages to reach te most intimate registers of our consciences. Art enters into the intimacy of conscience.
I offer my best wishes that the Christmas Concert may be an occasion to sow tenderness - this word that is so often forgotten today! Violence, war ... no, no, tenderness - in order to sow tenderness, peace and welcome, the gifts that flow from the stable in Bethlehem. I reiterate my gratitude to each of you and, while I wish you all a cordial greeting for the serene celebration of Christmas, enriched by joy and peace, I bless each one of you, your families and those who are dear to you.
And please, don't forget to pray for me. Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment