Pope Leo XIV praises Polyphony as a meaningful form for prayer, citing Palestrina’s sacred music at a Domenico Bartolucci Foundation event.
Newsroom, June 20, 2025, Gaudium Press – At a Wednesday event hosted by the Domenico Bartolucci Foundation, Pope Leo XIV lauded polyphony as a musical form “full of meaning” for prayer and Christian life, citing the works of renowned 16th-century composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina as a prime example.
The pontiff delivered his remarks on June 18 while welcoming participants to an event marking the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth. Palestrina, a towering figure in sacred music, served as director of prestigious institutions such as the Sistine Chapel, the Lateran Chapel, and the Liberian Chapel.
“Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was, in the history of the Church, one of the composers who most contributed to the promotion of sacred music, for ‘the glory of God and the sanctification and edification of the faithful’ in the difficult yet passionate context of the Counter-Reformation,” the Holy Father said.
Among Palestrina’s most celebrated compositions are Tu es Petrus, Missa Papae Marcelli, and Missa brevis (“You are Peter,” “Mass of Pope Marcellus,” and “Brief Mass”). The pope described Palestrina’s works as “solemn and austere,” inspired by Gregorian chant and designed to unite music and liturgy. “His compositions give prayer a sweeter expression, foster unanimity, and enrich sacred rites with greater solemnity,” he noted.
Polyphony, the pope explained, is uniquely suited to enhance the spiritual experience. “It is inspired by the sacred text, which it seeks to clothe with an appropriate melody so that the faithful may better understand the text,” he said. By weaving multiple voices, each repeating the sacred words with distinct yet complementary melodies and harmonies, polyphony creates a “dynamic unity in diversity.” This, he suggested, mirrors the communal journey of faith guided by the Holy Spirit.
The pontiff highlighted the technical mastery of polyphonic composition, noting how composers like Palestrina skillfully interweave melodies, employ counterpoint, and resolve dissonances into harmonious chords. “The effect is to help the listener enter ever more deeply into the mystery expressed by the words,” he said, often through responsories or alternating voices.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the enduring relevance of the Roman polyphonic tradition, which has left “an immense artistic and spiritual heritage.” He encouraged its use, with necessary adaptations, in contemporary sacred and liturgical composition to enable the faithful to participate “fully, consciously, and actively in the liturgy, profoundly involving voice, mind, and heart.”
Singling out Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli as a model of excellence, the pope also paid tribute to Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci, the event’s namesake and a distinguished composer who directed the Sistine Chapel Choir for nearly five decades. He noted Bartolucci’s contributions to the Church’s musical heritage as equally significant.
In closing, the Holy Father invoked St. Augustine’s reflections on singing the Easter Alleluia: “Let us sing it now, my brothers … As wayfarers sing, but walk … Go forward, go forward in good … Sing and walk! Do not stray from the path, do not turn back, do not stop!” Urging the faithful to embrace this call, especially during this “sacred time of joy,” Pope Leo XIV concluded with a blessing for all in attendance.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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