Renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli is set to perform for Pope Leo XIV on July 29, joined by a children’s choir of over 160 singers from the Holy Land, Uganda, and Italy. The concert has been organised by Bocelli’s charitable foundation and will be held at the Vatican’s Borgo Laudato Si’ gardens in Castel Gandolfo. The young singers, aged 8 to 19, come from Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nabikabala in Uganda, and Italian cities such as Naples and Camerino. They will sing a version of St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Peace” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. The choir consists of children involved in the Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s Voices Of program, which promotes choral singing and educational workshops to help children in communities affected by poverty, conflict, or limited schooling opportunities. The program started with a pilot in Haiti in 2016 and has since expanded to Italy, the Holy Land, and Uganda. Due to ongoing instability, Haiti’s choir members could not travel to Italy; instead, their choir directors will represent Haiti and explain the program’s work to the audience.
The performance at Castel Gandolfo concludes the inaugural Global Gathering of the Voices Of program, a 10-day event in Italy that also features a performance at one of Bocelli’s concerts in Tuscany and a visit to Rome’s Quirinale Palace to sing for Italian President Sergio Mattarella. “Every voice carries its own story, heritage, and hope,” Bocelli stated in a foundation release. “When many voices unite, from distant places and diverse backgrounds, a transformative experience occurs—one that surpasses singing: it fosters recognition, listening, and reduces distance between us.” In addition to rehearsals, the event, held from July 20-29 in Tuscany and Rome, offers activities like rock climbing, theatre, circus arts, photography, and radio workshops designed to promote teamwork and cultural exchange among participants.
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