World-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli will perform for Pope Leo XIV on July 29 in a special event celebrating peace, hope and unity, joined by an international children’s choir of more than 160 young singers from the Holy Land, Uganda and Italy.
The performance will take place at the Vatican’s Borgo Laudato Si’ gardens in Castel Gandolfo and is organized by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. The event marks the conclusion of the foundation’s first-ever Global Gathering for its Voices Of program, which supports children living in communities affected by poverty, conflict and limited access to education through music and educational activities.
The choir brings together young performers between the ages of 8 and 19 from Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the Ugandan village of Nabikabala, and the Italian cities of Naples and Camerino. Together, they will present a musical interpretation of St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Peace,” commemorating the 800th anniversary of the beloved saint’s death.
Although the Voices Of initiative began in Haiti in 2016, organizers confirmed that the Haitian choir was unable to travel to Italy because of the country’s ongoing instability. Instead, choir directors representing the Haitian program will share its work and mission with those attending the event.
The 10-day Global Gathering, held from July 20 to 29 in Tuscany and Rome, has given participants the opportunity to connect through music while also taking part in activities such as rock climbing, theater, circus arts, photography and radio workshops designed to encourage teamwork, creativity and cultural exchange.
“Every voice carries with it a story, heritage, hope,” Bocelli said in a statement released by his foundation. “When so many voices come together, from afar and from such diverse life experiences, something happens that goes beyond singing: the possibility to recognize one another, to listen to one another, to feel less distant from one another.”
Laura Biancalani, chief executive of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, emphasized that the project’s impact extends well beyond music.
“Our goal goes beyond music,” she said, expressing hope that every participant returns home with a stronger sense of identity, deeper understanding of others and a commitment to sharing those values within their own communities.
The event also marks another collaboration between Bocelli and Pope Leo XIV. In September 2025, Bocelli and his son, Matteo, performed during the inauguration of Borgo Laudato Si’, the papal center dedicated to promoting integral ecology and sustainability inspired by Catholic teaching.
With children from different cultures raising their voices together in song, the gathering serves as a powerful reminder that music can transcend borders and bring people together in the shared pursuit of peace.
Source: Various Sources.
