Pope Leo XIV speaks during the weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. EFE/EPA/ANGELO CARCONI
Vatican City, Aug 19 (EFE) – Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday encouraged composers of new sacred and liturgical music to respect the Church’s heritage in this area while also taking into account “contemporary sensibilities and different cultural traditions.”
“The composer of sacred music must know and preserve the Church’s musical heritage, drawing inspiration from it to create new compositions for the liturgy, respecting contemporary sensibilities and different cultural traditions,” the pontiff said during a general audience at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Pope also emphasized the value of “inculturation,” the process of integration into the culture one encounters, including in the realm of sacred music.
“The importance of considering the musical traditions of different cultures, as part of people’s religious and social life, is particularly stressed,” he emphasized.
This week, Leo XIV focused his catechetical message on the importance of sacred music, which the Second Vatican Council defined as “a treasure of inestimable value, surpassing all other artistic expressions, primarily because sacred song, united with the words, constitutes a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy.”
Sacred music and liturgical chant “are not mere embellishments” of the liturgical celebration, according to Leo XIV, who emphasized that “singing, moreover, fosters communion. Through the symphony, voices contribute to uniting spirits, overcoming differences between people and bringing everyone together in the praise of God.”
