From 23 to 25 November, the III International Meeting of Choirs is taking place in the Paul VI Hall, including the participation of choirs and musicians from all over the world. It has been organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization in collaboration with the New Onlus Work.
At 12:20pm today (6:20am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis went to the Hall to meet there with the participants and to offer them a speech.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Your presence in this House allows music and songs to resonate, even beyond these walls: you have awakened the Vatican! It is nice to listen to your melodies and to feel the joy and the seriousness with which you give voice all together to the beauty of our prayer. I thank Archbishop Rino Fisichella for his creativity and his words and for the initiative that allows you to touch the many paths of evangelization.
In recent days, as you know, the Synod of Bishops dedicated to young people, was held here. One of the topics that was treated with interest was precisely that of music: "The importance of music, which is real and an environment in which young people are constantly immersed, as well as a culture and language that is capable of arousing emotions and shaping identity. The musical language also represents a pastoral resource, which particularly challenges the liturgy and its renewal (Final Document, 47).
Your music and your singing are a true instrument of evangelization insofar as you bear witness to the depth of the Word of God that touches the hearts of people, and allows for a celebration of the sacraments, especially that of the Holy Eucharist, which allows us to perceive the beauty of paradise. Never stop in this commitment which is so important for the life of our communities; in this way, with your songs, you give voice to the emotions that are deep in everyone's heart. In moments of joy and sadness, the Church is called to be always close to people, to offer them the company of faith. How many times music and song make these moments unique in people's lives, because they preserve them as precious memories that have marked their existence.
Bringing about the renewal of the liturgy, the Second Vatican Council reiterated the fact that the musical tradition of the Church constitutes a heritage of inestimable value (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 112). That's it. I think, in particular, of the many traditions of our communities scattered throughout the world, which bring out the most rooted forms in popular culture, and which also become a real prayer. That popular piety that can creatively pray, that can sing creatively; that popular piety which, as an Italian bishop said, is the Church's immune system. And singing carries on this piety. Through these music and songs, voice is also given to prayer and in this way a real international choir is formed, where in unison the praise and glory of his people rises to the Father of all.
Your presence, while highlighting the internationality of your respective countries, allows us to grasp the universality of the Church and its different traditions. Your song and your music, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, make it clear that we are one body and we sing one single faith with one voice. Even if we speak different languages, everyone can understand the music we sing, the faith we profess and the hope that awaits us.
You study and prepare to make your song a melody that favours prayer and liturgical celebration. Do not fall, however, in the temptation of a protagonism that overshadows your commitment, and humiliates the active participation of the people in prayer. Please do not be prima donnas. Be animators of the song of the whole assembly and do not replace it, depriving the people of God of singing with you and giving witness to an ecclesial and community prayer. Sometimes I get sad when, in some ceremonies, you sing so well but people can not sing those things ... You who have understood more deeply the importance of singing and music, do not devalue the other expressions of popular spirituality: the patronal feasts, processions, dances and religious songs of our people are also a true patrimony of religiosity that deserves to be valued and sustained because it is still an action of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the Church. The Spirit of singing helps us to move forward.
Music, therefore, is an instrument of unity to make the Gospel effective in today's world, through the beauty that still fascinates and makes it possible to believe by relying on the love of the Father.
I am accompanying you with my blessing and entrusting you to Saint Cecilia, your Patroness, but above all I ask you not to forget to pray for me; pray for me also with your song! Thank you!
(Original text in Italian)
At 12:20pm today (6:20am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis went to the Hall to meet there with the participants and to offer them a speech.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
offered to choirs and musicians
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Your presence in this House allows music and songs to resonate, even beyond these walls: you have awakened the Vatican! It is nice to listen to your melodies and to feel the joy and the seriousness with which you give voice all together to the beauty of our prayer. I thank Archbishop Rino Fisichella for his creativity and his words and for the initiative that allows you to touch the many paths of evangelization.
In recent days, as you know, the Synod of Bishops dedicated to young people, was held here. One of the topics that was treated with interest was precisely that of music: "The importance of music, which is real and an environment in which young people are constantly immersed, as well as a culture and language that is capable of arousing emotions and shaping identity. The musical language also represents a pastoral resource, which particularly challenges the liturgy and its renewal (Final Document, 47).
Your music and your singing are a true instrument of evangelization insofar as you bear witness to the depth of the Word of God that touches the hearts of people, and allows for a celebration of the sacraments, especially that of the Holy Eucharist, which allows us to perceive the beauty of paradise. Never stop in this commitment which is so important for the life of our communities; in this way, with your songs, you give voice to the emotions that are deep in everyone's heart. In moments of joy and sadness, the Church is called to be always close to people, to offer them the company of faith. How many times music and song make these moments unique in people's lives, because they preserve them as precious memories that have marked their existence.
Bringing about the renewal of the liturgy, the Second Vatican Council reiterated the fact that the musical tradition of the Church constitutes a heritage of inestimable value (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 112). That's it. I think, in particular, of the many traditions of our communities scattered throughout the world, which bring out the most rooted forms in popular culture, and which also become a real prayer. That popular piety that can creatively pray, that can sing creatively; that popular piety which, as an Italian bishop said, is the Church's immune system. And singing carries on this piety. Through these music and songs, voice is also given to prayer and in this way a real international choir is formed, where in unison the praise and glory of his people rises to the Father of all.
Your presence, while highlighting the internationality of your respective countries, allows us to grasp the universality of the Church and its different traditions. Your song and your music, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, make it clear that we are one body and we sing one single faith with one voice. Even if we speak different languages, everyone can understand the music we sing, the faith we profess and the hope that awaits us.
You study and prepare to make your song a melody that favours prayer and liturgical celebration. Do not fall, however, in the temptation of a protagonism that overshadows your commitment, and humiliates the active participation of the people in prayer. Please do not be prima donnas. Be animators of the song of the whole assembly and do not replace it, depriving the people of God of singing with you and giving witness to an ecclesial and community prayer. Sometimes I get sad when, in some ceremonies, you sing so well but people can not sing those things ... You who have understood more deeply the importance of singing and music, do not devalue the other expressions of popular spirituality: the patronal feasts, processions, dances and religious songs of our people are also a true patrimony of religiosity that deserves to be valued and sustained because it is still an action of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the Church. The Spirit of singing helps us to move forward.
Music, therefore, is an instrument of unity to make the Gospel effective in today's world, through the beauty that still fascinates and makes it possible to believe by relying on the love of the Father.
I am accompanying you with my blessing and entrusting you to Saint Cecilia, your Patroness, but above all I ask you not to forget to pray for me; pray for me also with your song! Thank you!
(Original text in Italian)
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