No Concert in Vatican for End of “Year of Faith”

One might well have mixed feelings about this: the festal concert originally planned to take place next week on Saturday evening in the Vatican Synod Hall to conclude the year of faith has been cancelled. As KIPA/APIC reports, curial sources say the decision was already made a month ago. The concert does not fit with the simple style of Francis’s pontificate.

Already at the concert on June 22 in honor of the pope, Pope Francis cancelled his appearance shortly before the concert.

The Year of Faith, begun by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, concludes on November 24th with a large-scale liturgy in Rome.

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Katharine E. Harmon, Ph.D., edits the blog, Pray Tell: Worship, Wit & Wisdom.

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Comments

29 responses to “No Concert in Vatican for End of “Year of Faith””

  1. Jordan Zarembo

    While I find Pope Francis’s decision lamentable to some degree, it’s understandable why Pope Francis might wish to cancel the concert.

    Undoubtedly, Pope Francis appreciates a truly diverse array of musical styles and traditions. Also, Pope Francis himself has stated his appreciation of the musical heritage of Europe. However, he has also stated that he would like a Mass composed in Buenos Aires to be performed at a papal Mass. I suspect that Pope Francis wishes to create a more catholic appreciation of music. Maybe in the future Pope Francis will commission a concert which features pieces and performers from throughout the Catholic world (i.e., the world entire).

    The events of the past year have impressed me greatly. Pope Francis has already, and perhaps irrevocably, shattered the few remnants of the Italian principality. Perhaps the cancellation of this concert signals another shift from music as a gift to or commission of the Pope towards the notion that all music, and especially liturgical music, is in the service of the entire Church. The final, and well-needed, conclusion of the principality does not mean that Pope Francis is a president or prime minister in a cassock. I sense that Pope Francis has a distinct new vision for the papacy which defies past and present expectations.

    Reply
  2. Brian Duffy

    I doubt that Pope Francis has shattered the Italian principality forever.

    Who would have thought that Latin, lace and cappas would have caused heated discussions throughout the Ecclesiastical world in the twenty-first century?

    What’s that Harry Chapin song, All my life’s a circle?

    Reply
  3. John Swencki

    Why does it always have to be about him? What if others could have enjoyed and benefitted from the concert– without losing one iota of their love of Christ and the poor?

    Reply
    1. Barry Hudock

      @John Swencki – comment #3:
      John, your question (“Why does it always have to be about him?”) is worth asking. You have a point. Indeed, some might suggest there are other, more significant ways it could legitimately be asked with reference to Francis in recent months.

      But it is also worth considering how many times and in how many ways the same question was appropriately asked over the past 35 years with regard to the theological or liturgical preferences or tastes of the reigning pontiff that were made ecclesial priorities when they might just as well have been left private matters without anyone “losing one iota of their love of Christ and the poor”. At least in this case we’re talking about a musical event.

      I’m not criticizing your question or using it pick a fight. Only suggesting it as a way of understanding the frustration of some within the church these past decades. It helps me anyway.

      Reply
      1. John Swencki

        @Barry Hudock – comment #7:
        I think people sometimes tend to ‘divinize’ those who, however deserving they are of every respect and reverence, are nonetheless no more human than anyone else. I think our popes are eminently worthy of the greatest respect, deference, and attentiveness. They count. What they say and do matter, but not everything they say and do need be binding on the rest of humanity.

        I’ve been reading up on evangelization, from the perspective of prominent Protestant evangelists. One of the questions they deal with is: should a person be received into a (parish) church before or after they are baptized. Their concern: will the person be a disciple of their teacher (or pastor, or lay leader or whomever) rather than first being a disciple of Jesus? Whom will they follow and imitate? Do ‘church people’ tend to perpetuate their own styles, preferences, beliefs, ways of being Christian rather than help a person discover what JESUS wants them to be and how HE wants them to live?

        It’d be great if a pope could say something like: “If my words and example inspire or encourage you, if they strengthen and challenge you, great. But God didn’t create you to be another me. Be yourself. Discover what God is calling you to be and do.”

      2. Mark Emery

        @John Swencki – comment #11:

        That’s the best thing I’ve read on here in a long time.

      3. Elisabeth Ahn

        @John Swencki – comment #11:

        It’d be great if a pope could say something like: “If my words and example inspire or encourage you, if they strengthen and challenge you, great. But God didn’t create you to be another me. Be yourself. Discover what God is calling you to be and do.”

        The Pope already did say something to that very effect. During his now famous in-flight press conference, when asked if he would like others to follow his style, the Pope responded: “Everyone has to live as the Lord asks him to live. But austerity – general austerity – I think it is necessary for all of us who work in the service of the Church. There are many shades of austerity… everyone must seek his own path.”

        The Pope has also, repeatedly, spoken about the value of diversity and the need for true unity in the richness of diversity, not unanimity, in the Church.

      4. John Swencki

        @Elisabeth Ahn – comment #15:
        You are absolutely correct, Elisabeth. Thank you for reminding my increasingly sieve-like memory.

  4. Christian McConnell

    Perhaps it signals a move away from these incessant theme years? If so, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. I never really saw much point in them.

    Reply
    1. Bill deHaas

      @Christian McConnell – comment #4:
      Agree and would add that WYD, Eucharistic Congresses, etc. are also past their *use* dates. Need to refocus on something other than themes, spectacles, etc.
      Need to re-orient to events such as Lampedusa, meetings such as Asissi has had; national events that focus on actual needs, respond to gospel imperatives, etc.
      IMO, year of the priest or year of faith are redundant – every year is a year of faith and too much of what occurred during the year of the priest was embarrassing. How many catholics (if asked) could even tell you when the year of the priest happened?

      Mr. Chapman – *bad liturgist*; really, based upon whose and what criteria? The point of liturgy would be the same as any points that determine a *good* Pope.

      Reply
    2. Neil Draves-Arpaia

      @Christian McConnell – comment #4:
      I concur. I never get that much out of them either.

      Reply
  5. Adam Chapman

    He’s a bad liturgist. But a good Pope.

    Reply
    1. Paul Inwood

      @Adam Chapman – comment #5:

      He’s a bad liturgist. But a good Pope.

      People said that about Benedict, too…

      Reply
      1. Adam Chapman

        @Paul Inwood – comment #8:
        Did anyone really say that about Pope Benedict? That he was a bad liturgist? That’s hard to believe.

  6. Jonathan Ziegler

    I think Pope Francis should cancel whatever fancy Christmas celebrations that are planned as well, in order to be consistent.

    Reply
  7. Elisabeth Ahn

    “The concert does not fit with the simple style of Francis’s pontificate.”

    Not sure I agree with this premise. Actually, I would be surprised if it was indeed the Pope who initiated the cancellation of this concert. It probably was the organizers who, apparently not knowing any better, did.

    Regardless, who were the intended audiences for this concert anyway? Who are those “others” John Swencki (@ comment 3) speak of?

    In the past, were they not mainly the “princes” and “courtiers” of the Church, and Italian dignitaries? In the past, were these concerts not seen by many as just another (sad) example of the pomp and circumstance of the papal court?

    I find that more lamentable than the fact that this particular concert was cancelled — that things have become such that holding a concert in the Vatican is now considered antithetical to the Pope’s humble simplicity, and therefore, something to avoid, rather than celebrate.

    How sad indeed.

    Reply
    1. Jack Rakosky

      @Elisabeth Ahn – comment #12:

      I agree that it was more likely the organizers were the key players in this.

      Francis cancelled his appearance at the July concert for very substantial reasons that were unrelated to simplicity. The nuncios were in town; they are key players in the selection of bishops and in relationships to bishops conferences, both at the top of Francis agenda.

      Also Benedict had downgraded the status of nuncios by not receiving them individually in audience, and had appointed a non-diplomat (Bertone) to be Secretary of State. We now know that Francis is reversing that, rebuilding the diplomatic service of the Vatican to be a help to both bishops and nations. Giving the diplomats precedence over the concert signaled to everyone that a big change was in progress.

      The organizers of the concerts likely expressed their displeasure, and essentially said the Pope should never do that again, that having the Pope there was central to the concerts. Francis likely disagreed about his importance. The organizers likely decided they would rather not have a concert rather than have another one without the Pope’s presence.

      The” simplicity” explanation will enable the organizers of concerts to resume papal concerts under a future ” less simple” pope. Francis “I need people” explanation for not using the Papal Palace is similar. Yes, both send a message of simplicity but they do not box future Pope’s into Francis’ model. Both Francis and the people around him have been very sensitive in communicating that Francis style of being Pope is very much Francis! Of course the media cannot be stopped from saying that all popes should be like this. After all they are supposed to communicate the reaction of the world to the Pope, not just the Pope’s action.

      A close reading of Francis suggests that he is just as interested in great liturgy (e.g. Eastern Rites) and great music as is Benedict but he does not wear that on his sleeve and does not see those as key items in his papacy as many did with Benedict. Unfortunately many who wanted to contend that Benedict’s style as Pope should be that way for everyone to be, now are arguing that Francis style should not apply to anyone else.

      Francis liturgical and musical tastes are somewhat less European than Benedicts, and so he is likely sensitive to how Euro-centric concerts may play out in the Third World. It is one thing to have them in the Vatican, which is of course in Europe, another to have them for the Pope, who while bishop of Rome also has to be Pope to the whole world. The concert organizers should have had them for the poor of Rome, maybe Francis would have shown up and taken his favorite position, a back seat!

      Reply
      1. Paul Inwood

        @Jack Rakosky – comment #14:

        Unfortunately many who wanted to contend that Benedict’s style as Pope should be that way for everyone to be, now are arguing that Francis style should not apply to anyone else.

        Jack, excellent summary of what is going on.

  8. Lee Bacchi

    Why not host a meal for the hungry and homeless of Rome, create a homeless shelter for them to stay in and also feed their souls with beautiful music?

    Reply
    1. Todd Flowerday

      @Lee Bacchi – comment #17:
      That would be the task of the laity to organize.

      “God didn’t create you to be another me. Be yourself. Discover what God is calling you to be and do.”

      An essentially Ignatian stance.

      Reply
      1. Lee Bacchi

        @Todd Flowerday – comment #18:
        I would assign it to the Pope’s new almoner, with the actual and active participation of the Curia, and especially Cardinal Burke! Cardinal Burke could take his cappa magna, and give it to the poor for clothing, as Robert Bellarmine did with the window drapes of his Roman residence.

  9. Alan Johnson

    Is this actually a story?
    It reminds me of the mythical newspaper headline “Slight outbreak of the common cold: very few affected.”

    Reply
  10. Lee Bacchi

    Todd Flowerday : @Lee Bacchi – comment #17: That would be the task of the laity to organize. “

    Or maybe the Pope’s new almoner, with the participation (forced if necessary) of the Curia.

    Reply
  11. Andrew rex

    I’ve no objection to Vatican concerts even though I doubt I would choose to attend one. Charge a fair price for tickets and donate the funds raised to charity – that’s what we do in our parish. And why not use that huge piazza for outside concerts like Kenwood or Glynbourne, perhaps with a more populist feel with fireworks / laser displays or (liturgical) drama to celebrate church feast days etc. Again have collection points or charge for admission and give the money to a good cause. The church’s patrimony should also be utilised for sustaining good works – isn’t that basic evangelisation?

    Reply
  12. Thomas Hennigan

    I fail to understand the rationale behind the cancellation of such a concert. St. Thomas Aquinas on treating the virtue of MAGNFICENCE states: “But that which regards a man’s person is little in comparison with that which regards Divine things, or even the affairs of the community at large. Wherefore the magnificent man does not intend principally to be lavish towards himself, not that he does not seek his own good, but because to do so is not something great.” (S.Th. II-II, q. 138,1). I cannot see why austerity should be opposed to greeat music and the celebration of great occasions. If throughout history the Church had maintained such criteria, humanity would be deprived of some of the greatest artistic treasures which exist, including what is contained in the Vatican Museums. We would not have Palestrina, and so many others. Besides, I have attended such concerts in the Paul VI hall in the Pontificate of John Paul II. They are free (at least were when I went), an opportunity for many hear great music which they may not otherwise have. I assume Pope Francis is interested in the evangelization of culture, very much emphasised by Pop Paul in Evangelli Nuntiandi.
    The Pope is not a private person and what he does or doesn’t influences others more than what most others do. The very poor for whom the example of austerity is supposed to be directed are also entitled to beauty and surely prefer a beautiful church to an ugly one, besides it being more conducive to worship. There are limits to austerity; he can hardly live with the austerity of his patron saint, Francis, nor does anyone these days.
    If he had wanted to organize a concert with some other type of music, he could have done so, as I assume that if he had so desired it could have been organized. In any case, his personal likes and opinions are not part of the Magisterium of the Church. We can freely dissent from them.

    Reply
    1. Elisabeth Ahn

      @Thomas Hennigan – comment #24:

      “The very poor for whom the example of austerity is supposed to be directed…”

      I think “the example of austerity” is for everyone, not just (as you say) “the very poor.”

      Also, @Lee Bacchi – comment #22:

      “Cardinal Burke could take his cappa magna, and give it to the poor for clothing”

      HAHAHA. That’s a good one.

      Reply
  13. Doug O'Neill

    I cannot find anywhere what the repertoire was to have been for this concert. The summer concert was a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, which is weird for the Year of Faith, considering that it celebrates the triumph of secular humanism. I would think that it’s not the idea of a concert that would be objectionable, but the potential spectacle of it. It should be entirely possible to put together a simple elegant concert, or even a large major work of depth, celebrating the Catholic faith, without all the societal trappings. As one who spends much time trying to disassociate high-art Western church music from “classical” music, this is frustrating.

    Reply
  14. Joe O'Leary

    It just shows that the Year of Faith has been such a non-event that its end is not worth marking.

    Reply
  15. Joe O'Leary

    I agree, Beethoven’s Ninth is totally unsuitable. We have plenty of bland, secular European “faith”. The concerts should explicitly celebrate and proclaim Christian faith and should be music from mainline Christian composers (not agnostics such as Verdi, Brahms, Janáček, Britten, or religiously troubled Christians such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert). Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Stravinski’s Mass, something by Messiaen, would be possibilities.

    Reply

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