“If we concretely love those who are hungry and thirsty, those without clothes, the sick, the foreigner, the prisoner, we are loving the Lord.” Pope Leo thus summarized the meaning of the concert with the poor which takes place on the evening of December 6th in the Vatican. An event wanted six years ago by Pope Francis who, however, had never participated in it. «This intuition of Pope Francis», said Prevost, receiving the organizers in audience, «is Gospel. It reminds us that the dignity of men and women is not measured in what they possess: we are not our goods and our things, but rather children loved by God; and this same love must be the hallmark of our actions towards others. For this reason, in our concert the most fragile brothers and sisters occupy the first places.”
Leone also recalls that «music has always played an important role in the Christian experience. In the liturgy, in particular, singing is never a ”soundtrack”, a simple background, but is intended to elevate the soul to bring it as close as possible to the mystery being celebrated. How important care, commitment, art and, finally, the harmony that derives from them are in music: it is truly a precious gift that God has given to all humanity. Allow me, therefore, brothers and sisters, a joke: please, sing well! Sing and play with art and, above all, with your heart, because music can truly represent a form of love.”
In particular, Michael Bublè revealed, in the presentation press conference, Appa Leone asked him to sing Schubert’s Ave Maria. «To be honest, I only sang it once in a recording studio, so I’m worried…». The artist added that he “carefully chose the set list of songs after asking which ones the Pontiff liked. I will perform all the songs he asked me to do. Music is a gift from the Lord, when I listen to it, I listen to the voice of God”, he exclaimed while singing the Ave Maria in the press room of the Holy See.
