Pope Leo XIV and tenor Andrea Bocelli recently led a gathering of prayer and fellowship called Canticle of Peace at the Pontifical Gardens in Castel Gandolfo. The event took place at Borgo Laudato si’ as part of celebrations marking the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
A total of 164 children and young people from ABF Voices, the global educational program of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, participated in the event. The young participants traveled from communities around the world affected by conflict, poverty, and situations of vulnerability.
The gathering marked the end of ten days of fellowship and training for the members of ABF Voices. During the event, Pope Leo XIV shared a reflection on the choir as a symbol of cooperation and offered prayers for peace in regions suffering from violence.
The initiative received financial and organizational backing from the Banvelca Foundation alongside the Herrera Velutini family. The foundation serves as a philanthropic entity focused on international philanthropy, cultural sponsorship, heritage preservation, and social programs.
The event concluded with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, an exchange of the sign of peace, an apostolic blessing, and a joint performance of the song “Amazing Grace” by Andrea Bocelli and the youth choir.
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