Pope Francis on Friday met organizers and artistes of the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert that is scheduled for Saturday, December 14. By being born in a humble manger, God launched the only true revolution of love and tenderness that gives hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast.
Pope Francis made the point to the organizers and artists of the 27th annual Christmas charity concert of the Vatican, promoted by the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education and supported by the Don Bosco Valdocco Missions of the Salesians and the Pontifical Foundation Scholas Occurrentes.
The Pope explained that Christmas is a time of expectation when we ask ourselves about our hearts’ desire. Through this inner thirst, he said, God, Himself comes to meet us on the road where there is hunger and thirst for peace, justice, freedom, and love. “You too, with your songs, help awaken or reawaken this healthy human “yearning” in the hearts of many people,” the Pope told the concert artistes.
“The nativity scene clearly teaches that we cannot let ourselves be fooled by wealth and fleeting promises of happiness…” the Pope said citing from his recent Apostolic Letter “Admirabile Signum”, on the meaning and importance of the Nativity scene.
In this village, he noted, education and art meet through the languages of music and poetry, painting and sculpture, theatre and cinema. All these expressions of human creativity can be channels of fraternity and peace between the peoples that make up the human family, and of dialogue between the world’s religions.
Among the numerous international singers and musicians from around the world performing at Saturday’s charity concert are Lionel Richie, Bonnie Tyler, Susan Boyle, Mirelle Mathieu, Leo Rojas, and several Italian artists. Among the choirs will be the Charleston Mass Gospel Choir from the USA, the Italian Piccolo Coro Le Dolci Note, and the Art Voice Academy. Vatican News Department
