The late Pope Francis could have been the chief of probably the most highly effective organizations on the earth, however he was additionally identical to you and I: a lover of music.

Classical music was his best choice. When requested about his favorites by Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Jesuit paper La Civilta Cattolica in 2013, he gave an in depth reply.

“Amongst musicians I really like Mozart, in fact,” he mentioned. “The ‘Et incarnatus est’ from his Mass in C minor is matchless; it lifts you to God! I really like Mozart carried out by Clara Haskil. Mozart fulfills me. However I can not take into consideration his music; I’ve to hearken to it. I like listening to Beethoven, however in a Promethean method, and essentially the most Promethean interpreter for me is Furtwangler. After which Bach’s Passions. The piece by Bach that I really like a lot is the ‘Erbarme Dich,’ the tears of Peter within the ‘St. Matthew Ardour.’ Elegant. Then, at a distinct stage, not intimate in the identical method, I really like Wagner. I prefer to hearken to him, however not on a regular basis. The efficiency of Wagner’s ‘Ring’ by Furtwangler at La Scala in Milan in 1950 is for me the very best. But in addition the ‘Parsifal’ by Knappertsbusch in 1962.”

Given his clearly in depth information of music, it is smart then that Pope Francis was noticed visiting a document retailer referred to as Stereosound in Rome again in January of 2022, one thing the shop proprietor mentioned he did commonly when on the town on Church enterprise. (You’ll be able to watch a video of this occasion happening beneath.)

In line with reporting from Reuters, the Pope left that day with a classical CD, although which actual one has by no means been decided.

“The Holy Father,” the store proprietor advised journalists then (through Mom Jones), “is obsessed with music.”

Simply how passionate? Roughly 2000 CDs value. Shortly after Pope Francis’ document retailer go to, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who was then President of the Pontifical Council for Tradition, opened as much as La Civilta Cattolica in regards to the Pope’s expansive assortment. Many of the a whole bunch of CDs have been of classical music, however there was additionally some Edith Piaf, Argentinian tango music and a 25-disc assortment of Elvis Presley‘s Gospel songs.