Sacred Music of The Vatican, Rome, Italy

www.musicfromthevatican.com

'Alma Mater – Music From The Vatican', the album featuring the voice of Pope Benedict XVI, was officially launched at a press conference held at the Palazzo Sentorio in Rome for the world’s media.Vatican representatives at the press conference were Father Lombardi, Director of Vatican Radio and of the Vatican Television Centre, Father Vito Fracchiolla, President of Paulines Apostolate and Father Giulio Neroni , theological Producer, plus Monsignor Pablo Colino, Master of Music for St Peter’s Basilica, choirmaster and the longest serving member of the Vatican. ‘Alma Mater – Music From The Vatican’ will be released around the world on Universal labels. The decision of Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Centre to allow the Paulines to use the Pope's voice and image was approved by the Vatican Secretariat of State, Father Lombardi said: “The approval came because of Pope Benedict's interest in finding and experimenting with new ways and means for transmitting a religious, spiritual message in this world that needs it so badly. And also to find new ways to bring the voice and the person of the Pope closer to a wider public".

"Music is an effective language for communicating today with a vast public of young people, and not only with them," he said. "And the creative effort of allying both traditional and modern music with wise and spiritual words is certainly worthy of respect and encouragement,"

Alma Mater is an enchanting blend of Lauretan Litanies and Marian popular chants with eight original pieces of modern classical music. What makes this release especially unique is that this is the very first time that the Voice of Pope Benedict XVI, here speaking and singing in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German, will be heard on an album, thanks to the audio-recordings of Vatican Radio.