Pope Leo XIV says "At Christmas, may music be a place of the soul: a space where the heart takes voice, drawing us closer to God..."
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Greetings from Pope Leo XIV to the promoters and artists of the "Christmas Concert"
in the Vatican's Clementine Hall on Saturday, December 13, 2025
For 33 years, the Vatican has hosted a Christmas concert in the Paul VI Hall. This year, the event is taking place at the auditorium on Via della Conciliazione, not far from St. Peter’s Basilica, on Saturday, December 13th.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you with gratitude on the occasion of the Christmas Concert , a traditional event that for thirty-three years has celebrated the mystery of the Birth of Jesus through the universal languages of music and entertainment. “ Oh night divine ,” as we have heard.
I extend a warm welcome to all the artists performing today; I greet the Don Bosco Missions , which are promoting the Concert; and I thank the organizers, the sponsors , and the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation , which is supporting this initiative.
Tonight we will listen to melodies born in diverse contexts, linked to different histories, generations, and sensibilities. And yet, as happens in the night sky, these sonic lights will harmoniously compose a common constellation that, as such, is not just a pattern, but a guide.
Music is born of everyday life, accompanying our journeys, our memories, and our struggles: it is a shared diary, preserving everyone's feelings—nostalgia, longing, anticipation, loss, rebirth—recounting our journey with simplicity and, at the same time, depth.
Christmas, after all, reminds us that God, to reveal himself, chooses a human framework. He does not use imposing stage sets, but a simple home; he does not appear from afar, but comes close; he does not remain in an inaccessible spot in the sky, but reaches us in the very heart of our small stories. In this way, he reveals to us that everyday life—as it is—can become the place of encounter with Him.
This Christmas Concert supports a Salesian missionary project in the Republic of Congo: the construction of a primary school capable of accommodating 350 children. This too can give us pause, reminding us that beauty, when authentic, does not remain closed in on itself, but generates responsible choices for caring for the world. Thus, culture becomes a breath of fresh air for the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable.
Therefore, I invite you to experience this moment as an interior pilgrimage. At Christmas, may music be a place of the soul: a space where the heart takes voice, drawing us closer to God and making our humanity ever more inspired by his love. This is my wish for you, as I invoke the Lord's blessing upon you all.
Enjoy your concert and have a Merry Christmas!
Source: Vatican.va Bulletin Translated from Italian with Vatican Media Image from the Event
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you with gratitude on the occasion of the Christmas Concert , a traditional event that for thirty-three years has celebrated the mystery of the Birth of Jesus through the universal languages of music and entertainment. “ Oh night divine ,” as we have heard.
I extend a warm welcome to all the artists performing today; I greet the Don Bosco Missions , which are promoting the Concert; and I thank the organizers, the sponsors , and the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation , which is supporting this initiative.
Tonight we will listen to melodies born in diverse contexts, linked to different histories, generations, and sensibilities. And yet, as happens in the night sky, these sonic lights will harmoniously compose a common constellation that, as such, is not just a pattern, but a guide.
Music is born of everyday life, accompanying our journeys, our memories, and our struggles: it is a shared diary, preserving everyone's feelings—nostalgia, longing, anticipation, loss, rebirth—recounting our journey with simplicity and, at the same time, depth.
Christmas, after all, reminds us that God, to reveal himself, chooses a human framework. He does not use imposing stage sets, but a simple home; he does not appear from afar, but comes close; he does not remain in an inaccessible spot in the sky, but reaches us in the very heart of our small stories. In this way, he reveals to us that everyday life—as it is—can become the place of encounter with Him.
This Christmas Concert supports a Salesian missionary project in the Republic of Congo: the construction of a primary school capable of accommodating 350 children. This too can give us pause, reminding us that beauty, when authentic, does not remain closed in on itself, but generates responsible choices for caring for the world. Thus, culture becomes a breath of fresh air for the dignity of all, especially the most vulnerable.
Therefore, I invite you to experience this moment as an interior pilgrimage. At Christmas, may music be a place of the soul: a space where the heart takes voice, drawing us closer to God and making our humanity ever more inspired by his love. This is my wish for you, as I invoke the Lord's blessing upon you all.
Enjoy your concert and have a Merry Christmas!
Source: Vatican.va Bulletin Translated from Italian with Vatican Media Image from the Event
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