(Vatican Radio) In his first General Audience since his return from an Apostolic Journey to Cuba and the United States, Pope Francis recalled that visit in an overcast St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
He told the thousands of pilgrims and tourists gathered, that in Cuba, he wished to embrace all Cubans without exception, to proclaim the transforming power of God’s mercy, and to renew the hope expressed by Saint John Paul II that Cuba will open itself to the world and the world to Cuba. He also underlined how travelling from Cuba to the United States of America was a symbolic step, likening it to a bridge God is rebuilding.
The Pope said, God always wants to build bridges when we build walls, and he stressed, “walls always collapse.”
Speaking about the next leg of his journey to the United States, the Pope called to mind his visit to Washington, noting America’s tradition of religious freedom and its’ contribution to the life of the nation.
The Holy Father also recalled his address to the United Nations in New York, saying he, renewed the Church’s encouragement for its efforts to promote peace, justice, integral human development and care for creation and reaffirmed his call to stop and prevent violence against ethnic and religious minorities and against civilian populations.
Turning his attention to the final part of his U.S trip, the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pope Francis said, it was an opportunity to celebrate “the beauty of God’s plan for the family, which, as the fruitful covenant between a man and a woman, is the key to a future of authentic prosperity and solidarity for our world.”
Then, the Holy Family, greeting English speaking pilgrims, asked for prayers for the Synod on the Family which opens on the 4th October, and invited them to to be witnesses of God’s presence in the world and through family life.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(VIS/Vatican Radio) For the first time ever, the Vatican has opened the doors of the iconic Sistine Chapel for a studio recording with the Sistine Chapel Choir – the world’s oldest choir. The new album, “Cantate Domino. The Sistine Chapel and the music of Popes,” captures the sounds of the extraordinary acoustics of the Sistine Chapel, with music performed by the Pope’s own choir. The album was released on Deutsche Grammophon on 25 September, and a presentation was given on Tuesday in the Holy See Press Office.
Presenting the CD were Archbishop Georg Ganswein, Prefect of the Papal Household; Msgr. Massimo Palombella, S.D.B., director of the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir; Mark Wilkinson, president of Deutsche Grammophon; and Mirko Gratton, director of the classical music section of Universal Italia.
“The Pontifical Musical Choir, also known as the Sistine Chapel Choir, is among the oldest choral institutions in the world and has the unique characteristic of being the Pope’s choir,” explained Archbishop Ganswein.
He said this characteristic makes it part of the life of the ‘Pope’s Home’ and places the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir within the structure of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, and gives it the specific task of being an entity whose service is entirely devoted to the Pope.
“The Prefecture is the point of reference for the Choir in terms of its artistic, administrative and disciplinary management,” he continued. “The release of a musical CD under the prestigious Deutsche Grammaphon label is an unprecedented event in the history of the Pontifical Musical Choir, and attests to the quality and professionalism that this Institution has achieved, thanks to its serious and diligent work under the guidance of Maestro Massimo Palombella.”
The album, released on 25 September, includes Renaissance music written for the Sistine Chapel Choir by Palestrina, Lassus and Victoria. There are also two pieces of Gregorian chant, alongside world premiere recordings of the original version of Allegri’s fabled Miserere (Sistine Codex of 1661) and a Nunc dimittis attributed to Palestrina which is still used during papal celebrations. Cantate Domino offers listeners the chance to hear these pieces as the composers intended – in Latin and in the surroundings for which they were originally written. In order to capture the magic, mystery and beauty of the music in such unique surroundings, Deutsche Grammophon set up a specially constructed studio within the Chapel. The mixing desk was set up in an ante-chamber, next to the “Sala del Pianto” (where the newly elected pontiff first dresses in the papal vestments).
“The Sistine Chapel was consecrated in 1483, and since then it has been home, without interruption, of the Pontifical Musical Choir,” explained Msgr. Palombella. “In recent years, after intense and specific study of Renaissance religious music and its aesthetic importance, we have been able to undertake an interesting and significant recording. My hope is that these musical masterpieces will reach millions of people throughout the world, bringing them into contact with the historical culture and profound spirituality of the Catholic Church.”
The Sistine Chapel Choir is made up of 20 adult singers and 30 boy choristers. Among the singers is British baritone Mark Spyropoulos, who is the first British full-time member of the choir.
“This extraordinary choir, which has served successive popes since the early centuries of Christianity, has never before made a commercial recording in its home,” said Mark Wilkinson, President of Deutsche Grammophon. “This very special record has the power, the beauty, and the excellence to find a truly global audience ‒ and an audience beyond the traditional confines and boundaries of classical music.”
The release of Cantate Domino stands as a prelude to the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, a Holy Year decreed by Pope Francis, which begins in December. During the last Holy Year in 2000, 25 million pilgrims visited Rome and the Vatican.
Tracklisting:
1. Gregorian Chant – Rorate caeli desuper
2. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525–1594) – Ad te levavi
3. Orlande de Lassus (1532–1594) – Magnificat VIII toni
4. Gregorian Chant – Lumen ad revelationem gentium
attrib. Palestrina – Nunc dimittis (World premiere recording)
5. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Super flumina Babylonis
6. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Improperium exspectavit cor meum
7. Gregorio Allegri (1582–1652) – Miserere Sistine Codex of 1661 (World premiere recording)
8. Gregorian Chant – Christus factus est pro nobis
9. Felice Anerio (c. 1560–1614) – Christus factus est pro nobis
10. Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548–1611) – Popule meus (Improperia)
11. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Adoramus te, Christe
12. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Sicut cervus
13. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Angelus Domini
14. Orlande de Lassus – Iubilate Deo
15. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Constitues eos principes
16. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina – Tu es Petrus
There is also a trailer and excerpt from Allegri: Miserere on Youtube.
http://youtu.be/fc5YRYtclsM
http://youtu.be/6t5fEnPtYzs
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated Mass at Vatican Radio on Tuesday (29 September) and told its staff that they were “instruments of the Church” reaching out to the world and urged them to be examples of correct information. The cardinal was presiding over a Mass celebrated at the Radio’s headquarters to mark the feast day of St Gabriel, its patron saint.
Listen to this report by Susy Hodges:
In his homily Cardinal Parolin reflected on Vatican Radio’s mandate to communicate the words, gestures, actions and proposals of Pope Francis. He described it as a message of peace, life, solidarity and forgiveness that is very badly needed in today’s world.
Noting that the Radio is also tasked with providing objective information about the Church and secular news to listeners throughout the world, the cardinal explained that this was a very valuable mission. He said this is because it’s invaluable to have correct information that” is not enslaved” to outside “interests and powers who, in order to serve their own goals, are willing to slant or twist the news.”
Vatican Radio, Cardinal Parolin continued, is a powerful instrument used to spread the Good News and quality information and all those involved in this task should be setting themselves the goal of being “impartial and objective.”
He noted that ever since it was set up in 1931, Vatican Radio has adopted the most modern technology to achieve its objectives and nowadays broadcasts in more than 40 different languages, has 79 daily programs and a website that on average posts around 170 video clips each day.
Nowadays more than ever, he said, there is a need for information that “is not enslaved to interests” who seek to manipulate the truth or just follow the latest fleeting trend or the “heavy and superficial tyranny of emotions.”
In conclusion, Cardinal Parolin referred to the planned reform and re-organization of the Holy See’s media outlets to place them under a unified management, and conceded that like all large-scale projects this may not be easy to achieve. May the Radio, he said, always be capable of renewing itself whilst at the same time remaining faithful to its identity and mission at the service of the Pope and the Church.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council for Social Communications on Tuesday announced the theme for the 2016 World Communications Day. It is Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter.
The day is celebrated each year on the Sunday before Pentecost, which next year is on 8 May.
World Communications Day was established by Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council in order to draw attention to the “the vast and complex phenomenon of the modem means of social communication.”
This year’s theme was decided in order to coincide with the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the Holy Year called by Pope Francis to announce the Mercy of God.
The full text of the announcement of the theme is below
Communication and Mercy: a fruitful encounter
The choice of theme this years has clearly been determined by the Celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and the Holy Father undoubtedly desired that World Communications Day would provide the appropriate occasion to reflect on the deep synergy between communication and mercy.
In the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year, in paragraph 12, the Pope affirms that: The Church is commissioned to announce the mercy of God, the beating heart of the Gospel, which in its own way must penetrate the heart and mind of every person. He adds: Her language and her gestures must transmit mercy, so as to touch the hearts of all people and inspire them once more to find the road that leads to the Father. It is helpful, in this regard, to remember that our reflection is situated in the context of an awareness that communication is a key element for the promotion of a culture of encounter.
The Pope, on this occasion, refers to the language and gestures of the Church but the context makes it clear that all men and women in their own communications, in their reaching out to meet others, ought to be motivated by a deep expression of welcome, availability and forgiveness.
The Theme highlights the capacity of good communication to open up a space for dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation, thereby allowing fruitful human encounters to flourish. At a time when our attention is often drawn to the polarized and judgmental nature of much commentary on the social networks, the theme invokes the power of words and gestures to overcome misunderstandings, to heal memories and to build peace and harmony.
Once again, Pope Francis is reminding us that, in its essence, communication is a profoundly human achievement. Good communication is never merely the product of the latest or most developed technology, but is realized within the context of a deep interpersonal relationship.World Communications Day, the only worldwide celebration called for by the Second Vatican Council (“Inter Mirifica”, 1963), is marked in most countries, on the recommendation of the bishops of the world, on the Sunday before Pentecost (in 2016, May 8th).
The Holy Father’s message for World Communications Day is traditionally published in conjunction with the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers (January 24).
(from Vatican Radio)…
Vatican City, 29 September 2015 (VIS) – This morning in the Holy See Press Office a conference was held to present the music CD “Cantate Domino. The Sistine Chapel and the music of Popes”, produced by Deutsche Grammophon. The speakers were Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the Papal Household; Msgr. Massimo Palombella, S.D.B., director of the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir; Mark Wilkinson, president of Deutsche Grammophon; and Mirko Gratton, director of the classical music section of Universal Italia.
“The Pontifical Musical Choir, also known as the Sistine Chapel Choir, is among the oldest choral institutions in the world and has the unique characteristic of being the Pope’s choir”, explained Archbishop Ganswein. This characteristic makes it part of the life of the “Pope’s Home” and places the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir within the structure of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, and gives it the specific task of being an entity whose service is entirely devoted to the Pontiff. “The Prefecture is the point of reference for the Choir in terms of its artistic, administrative and disciplinary management. It is a composite and structured entity made up of 20 adult singers regularly employed by the Holy See, with the addition of 20 pueri cantores who attend the private elementary school annexed to the Choir. The release of a musical CD under the prestigious Deutsche Grammaphon label is an unprecedented event in the history of the Pontifical Musical Choir, and attests to the quality and professionalism that this Institution has achieved, thanks to its serious and diligent work under the guidance of Maestro Massimo Palombella”.
The album, released on 25 September, includes Renaissance music written for the Sistine Chapel Choir by Palestrina, Lassus and Victoria. There are also two pieces of Gregorian chant, alongside world premiere recordings of the original version of Allegri’s fabled Miserere (Sistine Codex of 1661) and a Nunc dimittis attributed to Palestrina which is still used during papal celebrations. Cantate Domino offers listeners the chance to hear these pieces as the composers intended – in Latin and in the surroundings for which they were originally written. In order to capture the magic, mystery and beauty of the music in such unique surroundings, Deutsche Grammophon set up a specially constructed studio within the Chapel. The mixing desk was set up in an ante-chamber, next to the “Sala del Pianto” (where the newly elected pontiff first dresses in the papal vestments).
“The Sistine Chapel was consecrated in 1483, and since then it has been home, without interruption, of the Pontifical Musical Choir”, explained Msgr. Palombella. “In recent years, after intense and specific study of Renaissance religious music and its aesthetic importance, we have been able to undertake an interesting and significant recording. My hope is that these musical masterpieces will reach millions of people throughout the world, bringing them into contact with the historical culture and profound spirituality of the Catholic Church”….