Pope Leo XIV reflected on the spiritual power of beauty following a concert held in his honor at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo.

The Diocese of Albano organized the performance as a gesture of affection during the Pope’s summer stay. Bishop Vincenzo Viva welcomed the Holy Father and expressed the local Church’s gratitude for his return.

Addressing those gathered, Pope Leo acknowledged the wars, violence, hatred, unemployment, and other hardships facing the world. In the midst of these difficulties, he said, music and art remind humanity that suffering does not have the final word.

Beauty, the Pope explained, can bring people together and direct their attention beyond immediate troubles. It reveals something greater and helps lift the human gaze toward heaven. Music and art therefore serve not only as cultural achievements, but also as paths that can lead people toward God and reflect His purpose in creation.

Pope Leo thanked the musicians for offering those present an opportunity to encounter that beauty. The program featured violinist Marco Rogliano, pianist Rossana Tomassi Golkar, and the I Musici di Parma orchestra, conducted by Pier Carlo Orizio. Their selections highlighted the work of Italian composers Niccolò Paganini and Vincenzo Bellini.

Bishop Viva also connected the evening’s music with the Church’s prayers for peace. Reflecting on Bellini’s Norma, he recalled the women, mothers, children, and families who bear the devastating consequences of war. He pointed to their hope for reconciliation and echoed Pope Leo’s repeated appeals for peace.

The concert concluded beneath an image of a star-filled sky, reinforcing the Pope’s message that authentic beauty can raise the human spirit and turn it toward God.