Grammy Award-winning singer Michael Bublé made history Dec. 6 with a performance before Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican’s sixth annual Concert with the Poor, marking the first time a pope has attended the event.
The concert took place at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall and drew more than 8,000 attendees, with millions more watching via livestream. Founded in 2015 with the blessing of Pope Francis, the Concert with the Poor combines music with outreach to underserved communities and is organized by Nova Opera under the artistic direction of Monsignor Marco Frisina.
Accompanied by the Nova Opera Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson, Bublé performed a program curated specifically for the occasion, blending selections from his catalog with Christmas classics. The set included “Feeling Good,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Silent Night” and “Ave Maria,” which Bublé sang in Latin with choral and orchestral accompaniment.
Additional highlights included “Bring It On Home to Me” and “Always On My Mind,” presented in orchestral arrangements designed for the venue. The evening culminated in a lighthearted moment when Pope Leo XIV joined Bublé onstage during a performance of “L.O.V.E.”
Bublé called the experience “beyond anything we could have dreamed of,” noting that sharing the moment with his wife, family and friends made it especially meaningful. He said the performance renewed his sense of faith and gratitude.
The appearance capped a milestone year for Bublé, who recently concluded his third consecutive season as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice.” The five-time Grammy winner joined the show in 2024 and led contestants to victories in Seasons 26 and 27. During the Season 28 finale, Bublé performed alongside fellow coaches Reba McEntire and Snoop Dogg, as well as members of Journey.
Bublé is set to appear next on “A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music,” a special highlighting the influence of Latin music in the United States. The program was taped in Miami and will air Dec. 28 on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
