Pope Leo XIII: The Lord Continues to Speak to Us Through the Poor

Pope Leo XIII spoke Friday to Artists and Organizers of the Sixth Vatican Concert for the Poor. He called it a "very beautiful tradition" established by Pope Francis, in hopes of celebrating the upcoming Christmas holiday.

The Incarnation: God's Love Revealed Through Poverty

The Pope recalled the quotation by Saint Paul about Jesus Christ: “For your sake he was made poor, so that you might become rich through his poverty”. The Pope said that the Incarnation is the “revelation of how much God loves every human being”, and cited from Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est to support this point. He said, “This Divine Mission has an especially poignant and affecting aspect because God Himself, through Jesus Christ, comes to find the ‘lost sheep’ and lost humanity.”

Acknowledge the Presence of Christ in Those Most in Need

According to Pope Leo, this concert is much more than a one-time music event or a charitable act. As he explained further by citing the Gospel of Matthew, “In all that you did to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me” and from his own apostolic letter Dilexi te: “It’s not simply an act of kindness out of pity, it’s also the manifestation… In the poor, he continues to be revealing his will to us.”

He stated that human dignity does not depend on having things: “We are not characterized by the things we own or have… instead we are characterized as God's beloved children.” Thus, the concert is focused on “our most vulnerable brothers and/or sisters.”

Music as a Means of Connecting with the Divine

Pope Leo said this about music: "Liturgical music is to help elevate the spirit." He also cited St. Augustine: "You should sing to Him…do so well, Brothers." He applied humor when he asked artists to perform their very best tomorrow. He further commented that music is "a sign of love…avias that build up the glory of 'God'."

Gratitude to the Artists and Organizers

Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina, Msgr. Marco Frisina, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, and members of the Orchestra were recognized by the Holy Father for their work and support to this event. The Nova Opera Foundation, along with its artists, including Serena Autieri and Canadian born Michael Bublé with his band, were also appreciated for their contributions to the event. Finally the Holy Father thanked all singers, musicians and other contributors for making this evening successful.