Francis received in the audience the participants of the Christmas Competition, an artistic competition for young people who write unpublished songs inspired by the values of Christmas: “Music,” said the Pope, “speaks to us not only about ourselves, but also about the “Search for God and sometimes for God himself”
Amedeo Lomonaco – Vatican City
Composing music is an art that requires harmony and creativity. Pope Francis recalled this in his address to the young musicians who took part in the 2023 Christmas Competition, a competition that takes place in view of the Christmas concert, and emphasized that musical composition is a metaphor for life: it is necessary to “develop harmoniously “to agree with the others”, with society and its laws” and to give space to “the originality of the way of being and expression of each individual”. (Listen to the service with the Pope’s voice)
Harmony and creativity. They are not contradictory: in fact, the search for harmony, which requires commitment, dedication and constancy, both in music and in life, does not humble the uniqueness of each individual, but releases it and offers the artist the tools to achieve one Communicating wisely is understandable to others, so it becomes a constructive gift for everyone’s joy.
The artist passes on a little of himself to others
The Pope then added that the artist also shares “unique, personal and intimate feelings” and gives a little of himself in each of his works:
So, in the compositions that you present in the competition, behind each of the titles you propose, you give us the opportunity to meet you in an unrepeatable moment, that of inspiration that is entirely yours but that you wanted to share: a flicker of of light, a tremble of love, a glimpse of blue in the sky of life, an astonishment at the beauty, or perhaps a pang of pain or a cry of protest that has arisen in your heart that you have given expression to through art.
A moment of the Pope’s meeting with the participants of the “Christmas Contest”
Music also tells us about the search for God
Francis also recalled that the Christmas competition, promoted by the Pontifical Gravissimum Educationis Foundation and sponsored by the Republic of San Marino, is an artistic competition with a view to the Christmas concert.
Now, in mid-September, it seems a little too early to talk about Christmas. However, important holidays begin to be prepared in advance, and the birth of Jesus deserves this and more! And then music speaks not only about ourselves, but also about the search for God and sometimes God himself! And it’s a good thing, because the harmony and creativity that I wanted to tell you about is found first and foremost in Him, and Christmas shows it in a special and moving way by giving us the Lord’s becoming small, His becoming for us Man wants to communicate to us the infinite warmth of his divine love. At Christmas, God, the Eternal Word, comes to listen to us and to work to create harmony with humanity, while in his surprising creativity he looks at us with the eyes of a child and surprises us with his innocent tenderness.
Every day is Christmas
And this, the Pope concluded, “happens not just on December 25th, but every day.” Speaking extemporaneously, the pontiff’s thoughts finally connected with memories associated with his country, Argentina:
In my country there is a beautiful song that begins like this: “Every day is Christmas”; Every day there is an opportunity for each of us to give birth to the Lord and to give life to others: “Every day is Christmas”.
Christmas competition, music and charity projects
The Christmas competition includes three categories: text, music and interpretation. The best songs will be performed at the Christmas concert, in which international artists will take part. The aim of this initiative is to invest in education to give young people and their creativity a voice. The Christmas competition is also linked to the “Good News” charity project, which provided an important training opportunity for young people from distant countries in the Dicastery of Communication over the summer.