Sistine Chapel Choir Director resigns

A press release from the Vatican Press Office today announced the following (working translation):

In the past few days, Mons. Massimo Palombella, SDB, has concluded his service as Maestro Direttore of the Music of the Pontifical Chapel. The Holy Father accepted the request of the Maestro to terminate his assignment. The decision was taken after consultation with the Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco and with the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. Monsignor Palombella is henceforward available to the Salesian Congregation for the new ministry that will be entrusted to him.

Original Italian announcement will be found at

http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/07/10/0584/01206.html

Palombella has done much in recent times to restore the reputation of what were previously known as the “Sistine Screamers”. No longer are there “twenty competing vibratos bawling at each other and boys singing consistently flat”. The plainchant is now restrained (though not to everyone’s taste), and Palombella has done a lot of work in the Vatican music archives, particularly regarding the works of his predecessor Palestrina and performance practices of Palestrina’s time. It remains to be seen who will take on this work and whether Palombella’s successor will succeed in continuing on the same path.

Paul Inwood

Paul Inwood is an internationally-known liturgist, author, speaker, organist and composer. He was NPM's 2009 Pastoral Musician of the Year, ACP's Distinguished Catholic Composer of the year 2022, and in 2015 won the Vatican competition for the official Hymn for the Holy Year of Mercy, His work is found in journals, blogs and hymnals across the English-speaking world and beyond.

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5 responses to “Sistine Chapel Choir Director resigns”

  1. Rita Ferrone Avatar
    Rita Ferrone

    The Reuters story says there is an investigation into charges of fraud and embezzlement. I don’t have any opinion as to whether the charges are likely to be true or false, but Gisotti confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, so I would imagine that having this shadow over his leadership influenced Palombella’s decision to step aside quietly.
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-choir/sour-note-sistine-chapel-choir-director-resigns-after-fraud-allegations-idUSKCN1U51P9

    Reply
  2. Karl Liam Saur

    It may be that his resignation, which was tendered last September according to at least one news report at the time (the scandal having broke a year ago this month), was finally accepted….

    https://gloria.tv/article/4GeZiKjv3MA232L7SCQEuqenV

    Reply
  3. Brian Culley

    Is the now resigned Palombella a Bishop?
    The report says he is a Salesian, and religious can’t receive the title Monsignor
    unless they are a Bishop.

    Reply
    1. Karl Liam Saur

      Was that true before Pope Francis’ 2014 restrictions? I don’t recall. Palombella was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, and at least by 2012 I see him being referred to as Msgr.

      Reply
    2. Paul Inwood

      He is not a bishop, though one website was misled by the title Monsignore into referring to him as a bishop.

      I believe that clergy holding certain positions within the Vatican are customarily given the honorific title of Monsignor. Whether this means that they are actually prelates of honour is another matter. It could be that Monsignor Palombella no longer uses the title now that he is no longer in post.

      Reply

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