‘Sacred music is the language
of the beauty of the faith’:
Abp Gaenswein answers newsmen after the presentation
of a new CD by the Sistine Chapel Choir
Translated from
Oct. 25, 2017
This CD shows the beauty of sacred music. My question to you, Excellency, is this: There has been no better benefactor of sacred music than Pope Benedict, who in his time, paid great attention to the Sistine Chapel Choir. Does the emeritus Pope continue to appreciate sacred music, does he still play the piano, and basically, how is he doing?
Let us say that you’ve finally asked the real question!
[Laughter] The fake news reports [about B16’s health] have all been refuted. So I shall start by answering your last question, your most important one… At age 91, he is well. Erase everything that has been placed into my mouth [i.e., falsely attributed to him].
As for sacred music, Maestro Palombella [director of the Sistine Chapel Choir] always gifts Pope Benedict with all their CDs from Deutsche Grammophon, and he listens to them, not just once. Of course, he appreciates sacred music. But as to the piano, there’s been a change: he listens more to piano music now instead of playing it himself.
How important is Christmas music for you and for Pope Benedict?
Sacred music in itself is important not just in those so-called ‘strong’ liturgical seasons but throughout the year. Of course, in those strong seasons, music takes on a more profound importance.
Music is the language of the beauty of the faith. Where there is beauty, ultimately there is faith. Where there is faith – because faith is expressed in music, as well - there is musical beauty, which presents us with multiple possibilities of entering into the world of sacred music. Not for aesthetic reasons, but for reasons of faith itself, so that it strengthens faith, or even creates it, even as it can give spiritual peace.
We know of the Holy Father’s concern for the poor. Will part of the sales from these albums go to charity?
Everything that comes in from the sales of the CD coming to the hands of the Holy Father
[Pope Francis] will go to benefit the poor and the papal charities, just as everything earned by the Sistine Chapel goes to the papal charities.
[I suppose he is referring here to the mega-rentals charged by the Vatican for the use of the Sistine Chapel as a promotional venue for large multinationals.]
Any figures?
If I understand you right, let me say, we can talk about the sin but not about the sinner. Which means, I don’t wish to answer the question.
[Laughter]