Vatican City: In a majestic evening at the Paul VI Hall, Pope Leo XIV personally thanked Maestro Riccardo Muti for his extraordinary contribution to sacred music, as the world-renowned conductor led a performance of Luigi Cherubini’s Mass for the Coronation of Charles X (1825). The concert, graced by the presence of Vatican officials and the Holy Father himself, also served as the occasion for awarding Muti the prestigious 2025 Ratzinger Prize. The event was made possible through the collaboration of the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Pontifical Foundation Gravissimum Educationis.
Taking the podium on Friday evening, Maestro Muti conducted the “Luigi Cherubini” Youth Orchestra alongside the “Guido Chigi Saracini” Choir of the Cathedral of Siena, delivering a rendition that transformed the hall into a space of prayerful reflection. The performance celebrated the approaching first Christmas of Pope Leo XIV’s Petrine Ministry, intertwining artistry, faith, and human expression.
In his address following the performance, Pope Leo XIV reflected deeply on the profound connection between music, faith, and the human spirit. Quoting Saint Augustine, he described music as scientia bene modulandi “the art of guiding the heart toward God.” He emphasized that music not only enhances spiritual understanding but also affirms the dignity and vocation of the human person.
The Pope highlighted Maestro Muti’s lifelong devotion to music as a form of dialogue with the Church, recalling his personal encounters with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who had awarded Muti the Grand Cross of St. Gregory the Great. These shared reflections on sacred music, spanning Salzburg, Munich, and Rome, underscored the ethical and spiritual responsibility inherent in art. “It is fitting that the Ratzinger Prize be awarded to one who has allowed a spark of God’s presence to resound through beauty,” the Pope remarked, noting that the award continues the dialogue between mystery, artistry, and the common good.
Pope Leo XIV also acknowledged the presence of young musicians in the performance, highlighting Muti’s commitment to education and formation. In a broader appeal, he underlined the need to ensure universal access to education, referencing the launch of the Observatory on Inequality and Access to Education, which seeks to address the millions of children worldwide excluded from formal schooling.
Before the Pope’s address, Maestro Muti expressed heartfelt gratitude, describing his affection for Pope Leo XIV. He shared glimpses of his artistic journey, including his tenure as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and spoke fondly of his spiritual and intellectual bond with Pope Benedict XVI. Muti recalled conversations about Mozart, highlighting the composer’s insight that “between notes there is the infinite, the Mystery,” and how the late Pope saw Mozart’s work as a tangible expression of God’s existence.
Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, praised Muti and the young performers for transforming Cherubini’s Mass into a living prayer. “Through their hands and voices, we witnessed not merely a score for a court ceremony, but a spiritual ascent,” he said, emphasizing the educational and ethical dimensions of the evening. He also drew attention to the global educational crisis, noting that 61 million children are deprived of primary schooling and 161 million lack secondary education. “Beauty does not erase darkness, but it illuminates it, giving courage to confront it,” the Cardinal remarked, linking the concert to a call for action to ensure all children can access learning and the arts.
Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, President of the Ratzinger Foundation, presented the Prize to Maestro Muti, underscoring how his interpretation of sacred music bridges faith, culture, and the human spirit. Reflecting on Muti’s long-standing friendship with Pope Benedict XVI, he noted that the mutual respect between the Maestro and the late Pontiff made him a particularly deserving recipient of the award, which honors both theological insight and artistic excellence.
The evening, blending music, prayer, and reflection, reinforced the transformative power of art in illuminating the divine, fostering ethical responsibility, and nurturing the human soul. For Maestro Riccardo Muti, the Ratzinger Prize not only recognizes a lifetime of artistic achievement but also celebrates the enduring dialogue between music, faith, and education that continues to inspire generations.