Pope Leo XIV says "Yes, Jesus is God's song of love for humanity. Let us listen to this song!" with Michael Bublé at Vatican Christmas Concert for Thousands of Poor
Once again, the Concert will welcome over 8,000 people entirely free of charge, including around 3,000
brothers and sisters in need of every language and religion, invited as guests of honor through the
Dicastery for the Service of Charity – Apostolic Almonry, thanks to the collaboration of numerous charitable
organizations and volunteer associations. Among them: Caritas Roma, the Community of Sant’Egidio, the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Circolo San Pietro, Centro Astalli for Refugees, ACLI Roma, and the Comunità Giovanni XXIII. At the end of the concert, a hot takeaway dinner was offered to more than
3,000 people, a gesture expressing the truest meaning of the initiative: sharing beauty as a form of closeness.
FREE CONCERT WITH THE POOR FULL TEXT GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CONCERT WITH THE POOR
in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Saturday, December 6, 2025
____________________________________
Michael Bublé, your Italian is wonderful, thank you so much!
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you!
I was pleased to participate with you in the sixth edition of this concert, born – we can say – from the heart of Pope Francis .
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 all, rich and poor. Therefore, as I extend my greeting to each of you, I feel a special joy in welcoming you, my brothers and sisters, for whom we have experienced this concert today: thank you all for your presence!
I thank Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and the Dicastery for the Service of Charity , as well as the various charitable organizations that have committed themselves to collaborating in the realization of this event.
Our gratitude goes, of course, to those who performed the music and songs with such artistry and passion: the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, led by Maestro Monsignor Marco Frisina, along with the Nova Opera Orchestra. And we cannot forget the Nova Opera Foundation and all the partners who made this event possible. A truly special "thank you" goes to the artist Michael Bublé for his presence among us this evening, as well as to Mrs. Serena Autieri.
Dear friends, music is like a bridge that leads us to God. It is capable of conveying feelings, emotions, and the deepest stirrings of the soul, lifting them aloft, transforming them into an imaginary stairway connecting earth and heaven. Yes, music can elevate our souls! Not because it distracts us from our miseries, because it stuns us or makes us forget life's problems or difficult situations, but because it reminds us that we are more than just that: we are much more than our problems and our troubles; we are God's beloved children!
It's no coincidence that the feast of Christmas is so rich in traditional songs, in every language, every culture. As if this Mystery couldn't be celebrated without music, without hymns of praise. After all, the Gospel itself tells us that while Jesus was being born in the stable in Bethlehem, there was a great concert of angels in heaven! And who heard that concert? To whom did the angels appear? To the shepherds, who were keeping watch over their flock by night (see Luke 2:13-14).
Dearly beloved, in this season of Advent, let us prepare ourselves to meet the Lord who comes! Let us ensure that our hearts are not burdened, not caught up in selfish interests and material worries, but that they are alert, attentive to others, to those in need; that they are ready to listen to God's song of 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.
Thank you all! God bless you. Have a wonderful Advent journey and a Merry Christmas!
FREE CONCERT WITH THE POOR FULL TEXT GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE CONCERT WITH THE POOR
in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Saturday, December 6, 2025
____________________________________
Michael Bublé, your Italian is wonderful, thank you so much!
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you!
I was pleased to participate with you in the sixth edition of this concert, born – we can say – from the heart of Pope Francis .
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 all, rich and poor. Therefore, as I extend my greeting to each of you, I feel a special joy in welcoming you, my brothers and sisters, for whom we have experienced this concert today: thank you all for your presence!
I thank Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and the Dicastery for the Service of Charity , as well as the various charitable organizations that have committed themselves to collaborating in the realization of this event.
Our gratitude goes, of course, to those who performed the music and songs with such artistry and passion: the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, led by Maestro Monsignor Marco Frisina, along with the Nova Opera Orchestra. And we cannot forget the Nova Opera Foundation and all the partners who made this event possible. A truly special "thank you" goes to the artist Michael Bublé for his presence among us this evening, as well as to Mrs. Serena Autieri.
Dear friends, music is like a bridge that leads us to God. It is capable of conveying feelings, emotions, and the deepest stirrings of the soul, lifting them aloft, transforming them into an imaginary stairway connecting earth and heaven. Yes, music can elevate our souls! Not because it distracts us from our miseries, because it stuns us or makes us forget life's problems or difficult situations, but because it reminds us that we are more than just that: we are much more than our problems and our troubles; we are God's beloved children!
It's no coincidence that the feast of Christmas is so rich in traditional songs, in every language, every culture. As if this Mystery couldn't be celebrated without music, without hymns of praise. After all, the Gospel itself tells us that while Jesus was being born in the stable in Bethlehem, there was a great concert of angels in heaven! And who heard that concert? To whom did the angels appear? To the shepherds, who were keeping watch over their flock by night (see Luke 2:13-14).
Dearly beloved, in this season of Advent, let us prepare ourselves to meet the Lord who comes! Let us ensure that our hearts are not burdened, not caught up in selfish interests and material worries, but that they are alert, attentive to others, to those in need; that they are ready to listen to God's song of 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.
Thank you all! God bless you. Have a wonderful Advent journey and a Merry Christmas!
LIST of SONGS - REPERTOIRE:
Upon the Holy Father’s arrival, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome and the Nova Opera Orchestra will welcome him with “Tu sei Pietro”, setting a solemn tone for the opening of the evening. Mons. Frisina will then lead a sequence of pieces that invite contemplation of the Mystery of the Incarnation: “Puer natus est nobis”, one of the most ancient Christmas antiphons, followed by “Quando nascette Ninno”, the famous pastoral by St. Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori performed by Serena Autieri, and a vibrant rendition of “Joy to the World”. The program continues with “Gloria in cielo”, drawn from the Laudario di Cortona and inspired by the angels’ announcement, and with “The First Nowell”, offered in an expressive, luminous setting that leads into the second part of the evening. Michael Bublé’s entrance will introduce a shift in atmosphere, still deeply aligned with the spiritual and Christmas character of the event. Accompanied by the Nova Opera Orchestra conducted by M° Nicholas Jacobson-Larson, Bublé will present a musical journey crafted specifically for the Concert with the Poor, blending signature songs from his repertoire with timeless Christmas classics. The opening, “Feeling Good”, will deliver a moment of commanding expression, enhanced by a symphonic arrangement that highlights the dialogue between the artist and the orchestra. He will then move into the timeless charm of “L.O.V.E.”, a true homage to American big bands, followed by the festive spirit of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”, now universally recognized as one of the defining songs of the modern Christmas season. In “Silent Night”, Bublé will explore a more intimate and contemplative tone, while “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” pays tribute to Duke Ellington with a sophisticated, swing-infused interpretation. A moment of particular depth will come with his performance of the “Ave Maria”, sung in Latin with a choral and orchestral arrangement tailored for Paul VI Hall. The concert will continue with a warm, engaging rendition of “Bring It On Home to Me”, blending the song’s soul roots with a contemporary sensibility, and will end with “Always On My Mind.”
Comments