Pope Leo: ‘Music is like a bridge that leads us to God’
Pope Leo XIV joins the audience at the Vatican’s “Concert
with the Poor” in the Paul VI Hall and expresses his pleasure to be able to
partake in the joy of listening to music, which is “not a luxury for the few,
but a divine gift accessible to everyone.”
By Linda Bordoni
Saturday evening was special in the Vatican as Pope Leo XIV
welcomed artists, volunteers, and more than 3,000 guests of honour - vulnerable
and marginalised men and women in need of different nationalities, languages,
and religions - who filled the Paul VI Hall for the sixth “Concert with the
Poor.”
Greeting participants and guests at the conclusion of the
event organised by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity and in
collaboration with the Diocese of Rome and a host of associations and groups
that care for the poor, this 2025 edition featured international artist Michael
Bublè, together with his band, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, conducted by
Monsignor Marco Frisina, and the Nova Opera Orchestra.
The Pope sat back throughout the concert smiling, clearly
enjoying the music, clapping with enthusiasm at the conclusion of every song
and even singing along with Michael Bublè before taking a few moments to
express his pleasure for having been able to join an event “born from the heart
of Pope Francis.”
He highlighted the universal gift of music, saying, “This
evening, as the melodies touched our hearts, we felt the inestimable value of
music: not a luxury for the few, but a divine gift accessible to everyone, rich
and poor.”
A special joy
“As I greet each one of you, I feel a special joy in
welcoming you, brothers and sisters, for whom we have experienced this concert
today: thank you for your presence!” he said as he welcomed the concert's
intended audience, before thanking the organisers and contributors,
including Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Prefect of the
Dicastery for the Service of Charity, and the various charitable organisations
that, he noted, made the event possible.
He also had special words of thanks for the performers: “Our
gratitude naturally goes to those who have performed the music and songs with
art and passion.”
Music is like a
bridge that leads us to God
Reflecting on the spiritual significance of music, the Pope
said, “Music is like a bridge that leads us to God. It is capable of
transmitting feelings, emotions, even the deepest stirrings of the soul,
lifting them up and transforming them into an imaginary stairway connecting
earth and heaven.”
Music, he continued, does not merely distract from
suffering, but reminds humanity of its greater identity: “We are not just this:
we are far more than our problems and our troubles, we are God’s beloved
children!”
The Pope also highlighted the strong connection between
music and the celebration of Christmas, noting that “It is not a coincidence
that the feast of Christmas is very rich in traditional songs, in every
language and every culture. It is as though this Mystery could not be
celebrated without music, without hymns of praise.”
Prepare for the
coming of Christ
Inviting all to prepare for the coming of Christ during
Advent, the Pope concluded, “Let us ensure that our hearts are not weighed
down, that they are not preoccupied with selfish interests and material
concerns, but rather that they are awake, attentive to others, to those in
need; let us be ready to listen to the song of God’s love, which is Jesus
Christ. Yes, Jesus is God’s song of love for humanity. Let us listen to this
song! Let us learn it well, so that we too can sing it with our lives.”
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