Saturday, feast day of Saint Lucy, vigil of ‘Gaudete’ and we still can’t enjoy a well-deserved rest. Another day, one more, in which it seems that the information has no end, we face an unfathomable universe…
The impression we have is that Christmas has returned to the Vatican after controversy and dark years. The recent concert called for the poor already raised the level, yesterday it returned to the highest levels. Music, good music, has returned to the Vatican and the joy is noticeable. It is very noticeable that those who live in error, in permanent heresy, defending the indefensible, do not like the beauty that brings us closer to God. Leo XIV personally handed the diploma to Maestro Muti after the coronation Mass of Charles X and the musician’s hopes came true, who recalled his «cultural and spiritual understanding» with Benedict XVI. Riccardo Muti had asked, not without controversy , for the return of great music to the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. It had been a notable absence during the pontificate of Pope Francis, which began in 2013 with a last-minute omission of the concert for the 96th birthday of Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci, the last lifetime director of the Sistine Chapel. Pope Francis immediately distanced himself from the pontificate of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, whom Muti held in such high esteem that he ranked him among the most intelligent people the maestro had known.
Yesterday, the maestro conducted the Mass of Luigi Cherubini for the Coronation of Charles X, performed by the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra and the «Guido Chigi Saracini» Choir of Siena Cathedral, before an audience headed by Pope Leo XIV. The Muti’s speech recalled his last meeting in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery with Benedict XVI, organized by Monsignor Georg Gänswein (present yesterday in the hall), when the now Pope Emeritus bid him farewell with these last words: «May that poor Mozart rest in peace». A joke arising from their shared complaint about certain interpretations of the Austrian composer’s masterpieces. The Neapolitan maestro stated that his relationship with Ratzinger was «that of a fervent Catholic with a great Pope and a great theologian». He also praised Leo XIV, the Pope who returned sacred music to a high level in the Paul VI Hall. Muti confessed his great appreciation for the new Pope from the first moment, even appreciating the choice of his pontifical name.
The Ratzinger Prize was celebrated after the last two editions —those following the death of Benedict XVI—, which were characterized by a low profile due to the absence of Pope Francis, leaving it to the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, to present the diplomas to the winners. However, in the first year of Leo XIV’s reign, the Pope returned to personally present the prize named after his predecessor and he did so with unprecedented visibility thanks to the presence of a celebrity like Muti. In his speech Pope Leo XIV recalled how Ratzinger «sought the voice of God in music», in the universe». The prize presented yesterday is the «continuation of that relationship, of an open dialogue to mystery and oriented to the common good, to harmony» that existed between Ratzinger and Muti, who «knew how to safeguard what Benedict XVI always considered the heart of art: the possibility of making a spark of God’s presence resound through beauty».
Yesterday, in the Paul VI Hall, Father Roberto Pasolini, Preacher of the Pontifical Household, offered to the Roman Curia and to the Holy Father the second Advent meditation for 2025 , on the theme: “Rebuilding the House of the Lord. These meditations before the plague had as a framework the Redemptoris Mater chapel decorated by Rupnik, but it doesn’t seem that the oven is hot for much Rupnik and we continue in the cold framework of the hall. The theme, we suppose, is an assignment from Leo XIV: «A Church without opposition ”. The first meditation was dedicated to the vigil in anticipation of the Parousia. The Preacher reviewed the history of the Tower of Babel : a project born of fear of dispersion and presented as a «reasonable» operation, but which in reality hid a logic of control. The theological point is crucial: God does not «punish» Babel out of jealousy, but intervenes to prevent a process of death . The text puts harsh but healing words in the Lord’s mouth: «Let us go down and confuse their language «. Confusion thus becomes protection , because it prevents a single voice from imposing itself as absolute and returns to humanity the possibility of not all being equal. From this perspective, Pentecost emerges as a «mirror» story: not a single language for all , but a communion in which each one understands «in his own language».
The reconstruction of the house of God, in summary, is never naive: it involves internal conflict, spiritual resistance and perseverance. The Church that does not start from zero, but brings memories, wounds, nostalgia and hope to the same work. Pasolini extracts criteria for ecclesial renewal: never confuse communion with uniformity ; accept the spiritual combat ; learn to » suffer » together without ignoring the voice of the other. As a spiritual icon, he recalls Francis of Assisi and the word that set him on his way: «Go, repair my house» ; initially stones and walls, but soon the awareness that the true temple to be restored is the Church itself. The explicit reference to Vatican II is equally direct: the pilgrim Church is called to a «continuous reform «, understood not as a trend, but as greater fidelity to its vocation.
Pope Leo XIV received in audience the members of the Italian Republic’s Security Intelligence System , in the context of the centenary that the Pontiff recalled, dating back to 1925 , the year of the founding of the Military Intelligence Service, come on, we don’t say it, but it’s the jubilee of the spies, the Italian 007s. Various circles in the sacred palaces expressed their concern about the ethical and moral issues that generally surround the work of intelligence services: the balance between the protection of the common good and respect for the person, between security and the risk of misuse of information. This context also includes the matter —particularly sensitive today— of the file that has involved, in recent years, prominent figures of the Holy See, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu and other prelates. The operational contacts between the Vatican Gendarmerie and Italian intelligence agencies, originally established for protection and prevention purposes, have often become ambiguous in recent years, being used as channels to collect or disseminate information about priests, bishops, cardinals and Vatican officials: a slippery slope, where institutional trust risks being confused with dynamics of pressure, suspicion or internal control.
The Pope addressed precisely the controversial theme in the audience: he expressed his appreciation for the «competent», «transparent» and, at the same time, «confidential» work, but imposed strict criteria on its purposes and methods. Leo XIV demanded clear limits and vigilance against the temptations of an activity that «strongly impacts individual rights», demanding proportionality, protection of private and family life, freedom of conscience and information , and the right to a fair trial; and linked the legitimacy of the Services’ actions to promulgated and public laws, judicial oversight and budgets subject to transparent controls. Confidential information should never become tools to «intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, discredit» politicians, journalists or other civil actors , and all this also applies to the ecclesiastical sphere».
Another Christmas evening organized by the Bambino Gesù Foundation of Cairo, a few steps from the Vatican, in the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale, was particularly significant due to the presence of three cardinals, Domenico Calcagno, Angelo Becciu and Marcello Semeraro. The level was not that of Muti, the Firefighters’ Band performed, conducted by Donato Di Martile, accompanied by soprano Minji Kang and tenor Luca Vissani who alternated classical pieces with famous arias, from «Ride of the Valkyries» to «Ave Maria», from «Mattinata» to «E lucevan le stelle», and even Morricone’s music. Diplomatic delegations from the Arab League and the ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Palestine and Honduras also attended the evening. The curious fact is that Becciu gave the final blessing, noting that initiatives like this «help keep the light of hope alive amid so much darkness».
In a special issue of the magazine Piazza San Pietro, dedicated to Christmas Eve Antonio, a psychologist, addressed Leo XIV asking for a word that could «touch the heart» of young people. The Pope’s response: «let us avoid drug-fueled shopping» and «let us invite a poor family or even a single person to the Christmas dinner». The Pope points out to young people the light of the example of St. John Henry Newman, recently proclaimed Doctor of the Church. A master of dialogue and education who can help combat «the darkness of nihilism» and build a true «civilization of peace».
It is not a unique case, the Diocese has issued a press release following the case of the removal of a reference to Jesus from a carol that occurred in a school in the Reggio Emilia area. The school that promoted the initiative bears the name «San Giovanni Bosco», the saint and quintessential Italian educator. Archbishop Morandi: «Christian experience and life are an essential part of our social and public identity, which cannot and must not be erased, as if it were a potential impediment to encounter with people of other cultural and religious origins. Identity is not an obstacle to dialogue; on the contrary, it is an indispensable condition and premise». «Among the symbols most dear to our people is the Nativity scene, whose initiator was none other than St. Francis, patron of Italy and tireless builder of peace». The Nativity scene, like the Cross that some would like to prohibit in schools, represents the supreme sacrifice of Christ, who was born, died and rose for the sins of all mankind and is a call to the redemption of humanity by its Creator. At the legal level, Italian and European judges have established that Christian symbols should not be considered discriminatory and that, as «passive» symbols, they do not limit freedom of teaching or conscience.
Yesterday, Conor McGregor got married in the Vatican , with his lifelong partner, Devlin Dee , with whom he has four children. It will be a highly secret ceremony, of which nothing was known until yesterday. The Irish Independent, one of Ireland’s leading newspapers, broke the news this morning, citing Vatican sources and acknowledging the Vatican’s concern over the participation of such a controversial figure as the MMA fighter born in Dublin, who has been involved in several violent incidents. Conor McGregor and Devlin Dee got married in the Church of Santo Stefano Degli Abissini. Devlin publicly defended her partner on social media: « We addressed these matters privately years ago and have come out stronger ». A complicated love that culminated with today’s wedding in the Vatican.
The closure of convents and monasteries is not always easy and causes complicated situations. Convent sold for a value of 0, the prosecutor’s office intervenes «Were the nuns defrauded?». The Prosecutor’s Office of Genoa and the Vatican open an investigation: the property is worth 13 million , it is a colossal property in the exclusive neighborhood. A community that for years had dedicated itself to the most vulnerable —refugees, single mothers, homeless people— is being evicted by its new owners, who want a luxury nursing home in that former convent, in Genoa’s wealthiest neighborhood. It is a crime against the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo , former owners of the monastery, which was sold in 2023 to Byron srl , founded and managed until 2019 by the real estate developer Eros Maggio , who later sold it to his family. A group of residents, including the noble family that donated the monastery, filed a complaint that opened an investigation. Byron will face charges for buying a property valued at between 12 and 13 million euros for 1.6 million .
And we go to America. President Claudia Sheinbaum held a phone call with Pope Leo XIV, whom she invited to visit Mexico: «we agree that, beyond the religion professed by each person and the secularity of the State, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol of identity and peace for Mexicans». Pope Leo XIV , visibly moved, presided over the holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Peace does not reign in the Basilica of Guadalupe, they have it in Guillermo Gazanini’s article in our Infovaticana: Rector of the Basilica of Guadalupe under canonical investigation; Pope Leo would know of the serious situation of the Marian shrine. «With the decline of the Archbishop of Mexico, there is an enormous scandal that, if confirmed by the investigation, would not only splash him, but drench him. Despite pretending financial transparency, the archdiocese and Basilica of Guadalupe go through an unheard-of opacity that is not in line with Pope Leo’s wishes». » Millions and millions arrive at the Basilica surpassing the record of other years perhaps unaware and without knowledge of the tremendous turmoil that clouds the spring of faith, but that same faith moves mountains and will make truth and justice kiss and prevail (Ps 85:10)… For the good of the Church in Mexico, let whoever falls fall».
We end with the situation in Venezuela that is in all the media. We have many readers inside Venezuela and in the diaspora and we do not forget them, their hopes are ours. María Corina Machado, winner of the last elections and Nobel Peace Prize, traveled to Oslo in person. She did so in a bold escape, coordinated with the United States, worthy of the best Cold War stories. She was not the one who accepted the prize or delivered the speech. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, took her place. But that same night she was received with joy by her Venezuelan supporters in the diaspora. How she managed to get there is a Cold War story, a 21st-century recreation of the bold escapes from East Berlin or the Soviet Union.
«Thus also the Son of Man will suffer at their hands».
Good reading.