Andrea Bocelli is preparing for a deeply moving performance alongside Pope Leo XIV, bringing together more than 160 children and young people from across the world in a celebration of peace, hope and unity at Castel Gandolfo.
The internationally acclaimed tenor will perform on July 29 at Borgo Laudato Si’ in the Vatican Gardens, where Pope Leo XIV will lead a special moment of prayer and reflection. The event marks the conclusion of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s first Voices Of Global Gathering while also commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The international choir is made up of more than 160 singers between the ages of 8 and 19 from Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Ugandan village of Nabikabala, and the Italian cities of Naples and Camerino. Together, they will perform a musical interpretation of Saint Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, celebrating a message of peace and shared humanity.
Every participant is part of Voices Of, an initiative created by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation that combines choral music with educational workshops for children and teenagers living in communities affected by poverty, conflict and limited access to education. The program began in Haiti in 2016 and has since expanded to Italy, the Holy Land and Uganda, using music as a tool to inspire hope and opportunity.
Organizers confirmed that the Haitian choir will not be able to travel to Italy because of the country’s ongoing instability. Instead, representatives from the program will present the foundation’s continuing work in Haiti during the gathering.
The performance at Castel Gandolfo brings the ten-day Voices Of Global Gathering to a close. Throughout the event, participants have taken part in cultural workshops including climbing, theatre, circus arts, photography and radio, while also attending one of Andrea Bocelli’s concerts and performing at Rome’s Quirinal Palace before Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Reflecting on the event, Bocelli described the choir as something far greater than a musical performance.
“Every voice carries a story, a heritage and a hope. When so many voices come together from distant places and from such different backgrounds, something happens that goes beyond singing: we are given the chance to recognise one another, to listen to one another and to feel less distant from each other.”
Laura Biancalani, chief executive of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, emphasized that the initiative is about creating lasting impact beyond the stage. She expressed hope that each participant will return home with greater confidence, a stronger sense of identity and a renewed commitment to building relationships within their own communities.
The performance also continues Bocelli’s growing connection with Pope Leo XIV. In September 2025, the celebrated tenor and his son Matteo Bocelli performed during the inauguration of Borgo Laudato Si’, a center dedicated to promoting integral ecology and sustainability in accordance with Catholic teaching.
As voices from different cultures and backgrounds unite before Pope Leo XIV, the special gathering promises to be a powerful reminder that music can bridge differences and inspire peace across the world.
Source: Various Sources.
