Pope Leo XIV met with artists and organizers of the sixth Vatican Concert with the Poor. The Pope called the concert a 'beautiful tradition' as the Church prepares for Christmas. Pope Leo emphasized that the concert is not merely a musical event or an act of philanthropy, but a recognition of Christ in those most in need. He stated that human dignity does not depend on possessions, but on being children loved by God.
7 days ago
The sixth edition of the Vatican's "Concert with the Poor" took place on December 6, 2025, in the Paul VI Hall, continuing a tradition initiated under Pope Francis.1 2
Over 3,000 vulnerable guests, including migrants, refugees, and those assisted by Catholic charities, attended alongside Pope Leo XIV, artists, and organizers.2 4
The event featured Canadian singer Michael Bublé, Italian performer Serena Autieri, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome led by Monsignor Marco Frisina, and the Nova Opera Orchestra.1 2 4
On December 5, 2025, Pope Leo XIV met with artists and organizers, describing the concert as a "beautiful tradition" that highlights Christ's presence in the poor.1
He referenced Saint Paul's words on Christ's poverty and Benedict XVI's encyclical Deus Caritas Est, emphasizing God's search for the suffering.1
Quoting Matthew's Gospel and his own exhortation Dilexi te, the Pope urged recognizing human dignity beyond possessions, prioritizing the fragile.1
Pope Leo actively participated, smiling, clapping, and singing along, including to Bublé's rendition of Nat King Cole's "L.O.V.E."3
Bublé performed at the Pope's request the Ave Maria by Franz Schubert, a piece tied to Leo's late mother, Mildred Prevost, a singer herself.3
The concert blended music with solidarity, welcoming guests of various nationalities, languages, and faiths in a joyful setting.2 4
Pope Leo called music a "divine gift accessible to everyone," not a luxury, but a bridge to God that elevates the soul.2 3
He echoed Saint Augustine, noting liturgical song lifts hearts, and humorously asked artists to "sing well."1
Music transmits deep emotions, forming an "imaginary stairway" between earth and heaven, reminding people of their identity as God's beloved children beyond troubles.2 3 4
The event underscored serving the poor as serving Christ, with the Pope thanking Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, and charitable groups.1 2
Leo highlighted the concert's focus on the marginalized, aligning with his exhortation that in the poor, "the Lord continues to speak to us."1
He expressed special joy in welcoming the guests, affirming music's role in fostering solidarity during hardship.2 4
The concert linked music to Christmas traditions, rich in carols across cultures, evoking the angels' song at Jesus' birth heard by shepherds.2 3 4
Pope Leo urged preparing hearts during Advent to be attentive to the needy, avoiding selfish concerns.2 3
He described Jesus as "God’s song of love for humanity," calling attendees to learn and live this song for a blessed Advent and merry Christmas.2 3 4
Music as bridge to God for the poor
In the rich tapestry of Catholic tradition, music emerges not merely as an artistic expression but as a profound spiritual conduit, drawing souls—especially those burdened by poverty—closer to the divine. Rooted in the Church's teachings on love, charity, and the beauty of creation, music harmonizes human suffering with God's mercy, offering the poor a pathway to encounter the loving heart of Christ. This bridge transcends material want, inviting the marginalized into the symphony of salvation where every voice, no matter how faint, contributes to the eternal praise of God. Drawing from papal encyclicals, addresses, and reflections, we see music as an instrument of evangelization, healing, and communal hope, particularly for those whom society often overlooks.
At the core of Christian life lies the revelation that "God is love," a truth that echoes through Scripture and tradition, inviting humanity into a reciprocal relationship of affection and service.<sup></sup> This love, first bestowed by God, manifests in the Church's mission to proclaim the Word, celebrate the sacraments, and exercise charity—duties that are inseparable and form the Church's very essence.<sup></sup> For the poor, this love becomes tangible not through abstract doctrine alone but through lived experiences that touch the heart, much like a melody that stirs the soul without words.
Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, emphasizes that charity is the Church's response to God's gratuitous love, extending beyond mere welfare to the integral good of the human person.<sup></sup> Music, in this context, serves as a manifestation of Trinitarian love, where the Holy Spirit harmonizes hearts with Christ's, moving believers to love others as He did.<sup></sup> The saints, such as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, exemplify this by renewing their love for neighbor through Eucharistic encounters, which in turn deepen their service to the needy.<sup></sup> Thus, music acts as a bridge by blending delight with doctrine, as St. Basil the Great observed, using melody to soften the hardness of sin and draw the listener toward virtue and truth.<sup></sup> For the poor, whose lives may be marked by isolation and despair, this harmonious encounter with God's love provides a foretaste of heavenly unity, where divisions dissolve in the "we" formed by divine affection.<sup></sup>
The liturgy, as the heart of Church life, employs music to unite heaven and earth, creating a channel where God's action meets human praise.<sup></sup> Psalms like 150 and 149 call the faithful to praise God with every instrument—trumpet, harp, drums, and cymbals—urging a procession of worship that involves the whole person, body and soul.<sup></sup> St. Augustine interprets this not just as vocal harmony but as an alignment of works with words: singing "Alleluia" must pair with acts of mercy, such as feeding the hungry or sheltering the traveler.<sup></sup> In this way, music in worship becomes a bridge for the poor, transforming their cries—often likened to the raw music of children's tears—into a unified hymn that ascends to God.<sup></sup>
This liturgical dimension underscores music's role in fostering contemplation and faith. As Josef Pieper reflects, true music creates a "listening silence" that opens the mind to mysteries and moves the heart to love.<sup></sup> For the poor, who may feel distant from elaborate rituals, sacred music—such as Gregorian chant for feasts like Christmas or Easter—offers simplicity and universality, evoking the Incarnation's beauty and inviting participation without prerequisite.<sup></sup> Pope John Paul II highlights how such hymnody must be "worthy of the greatness of the Liturgy," ensuring it elevates rather than distracts, thus bridging earthly struggles to eternal light.<sup></sup>
The Church's charitable activity is not optional but intrinsic to her being, a "diakonia" that seeks the whole person, addressing both material needs and spiritual voids.<sup></sup> In this mission, music emerges as a powerful tool for inclusion, particularly through events that gather the affluent and the impoverished in shared beauty. Pope Francis, in his address to the organizers of the "Concert with the Poor," describes such gatherings as parables of synodal harmony: diverse instruments and voices, each with its timbre, unite to produce a symphony that comforts and edifies.<sup></sup> Silences, dissonances, and even the "off-key" notes of human frailty are essential, reminding us that God creates no waste and calls everyone to play their part.<sup></sup>
This concert, held in communion with the fragile, positions the poor as protagonists, affirming their dignity and fraternity in Christ.<sup></sup> It generates signs of hope, echoing the Jubilee's call to love from the Heart of Jesus, and counters the isolation of poverty by fostering a "marvelous and conscious song of love to God and to brothers and sisters."<sup>[7†L8, L14]</sup> Similarly, the Pontifical Council for Culture portrays faith-inspired arts, including music, as a "via pulchritudinis"—a pathway of evangelization that rereads Christian patrimony to transmit its message.<sup></sup> For the poor, these works become "Bibles of the Poor," stairways to contemplation where beauty aids prayer and reveals the Incarnation's mystery, leading to the "visio Dei" that is humanity's true life.<sup></sup>
Yet, charity through music must remain distinct: it responds to immediate needs with professional competence and heartfelt concern, never as proselytism but as witness to God's love.<sup></sup> Bishops and Church organizations bear responsibility to coordinate such efforts, ensuring they prepare communities to serve both within and beyond the ecclesial family.<sup></sup> Pope Francis reinforces this in his message for the World Day of the Poor, urging trust in God's attentiveness amid unanswered prayers: from poverty's depths, genuine hope can arise, as the Lord's judgment favors the lowly.<sup></sup> Music, then, amplifies this prayer, turning silent suffering into a collective ascent.
In today's society, where poverty often silences voices, music's role as a bridge gains urgency. Consider the "Concert with the Poor" as a modern echo of the Good Samaritan's mercy: it feeds not just bodies but souls, inviting the needy to experience beauty as God's gift to all.<sup></sup> Such initiatives align with the Church's call to universal love, prioritizing the "household of faith" while extending to all encountered in need.<sup></sup> For the poor, music combats the "absence of God" that deepens suffering, offering instead a space where love speaks louder than words.<sup></sup>
This bridge demands active participation: artists, organizers, and believers must choose harmony over discord, collaborating like an orchestra to realize God's family.<sup></sup> In liturgy and charity alike, music renews the spirit, as seen in St. Augustine's choir where works accord with praise.<sup></sup> Ultimately, it defends God and humanity by embodying love, ensuring the poor are not overlooked but elevated in the divine symphony.<sup></sup>
In conclusion, music as a bridge to God for the poor weaves together the threads of love, worship, and mercy, transforming isolation into communion. From the encyclical's vision of Trinitarian charity to papal addresses on harmonious events, Catholic teaching affirms that through melody, the marginalized hear God's whisper of hope and dignity. May we all join this eternal song, letting beauty lead us to the source of all love.