Pope Leo XIV to Attend Classical Concert at Castel Gandolfo, July 18

Pope Leo XIV, who has revived the papal tradition of spending part of the summer at the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo, will attend a classical concert on July 18. The event, titled “Concert in Honor of the Holy Father Leo XIV,” is being offered by the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano as a gift to the pontiff and will take place in the palace courtyard while the pope is on vacation from July 5‑27.

The program includes works by Niccolò Paganini and Vincenzo Bellini. Soloists will be violinist Marco Rogliano and pianist Rossana Tomassi Golkar, the latter performing a specially arranged excerpt from Bellini’s opera *Norma* by Oscar‑winner Luis Bacalov. The 55‑musician orchestra I Musici di Parma will be conducted by Pier Carlo Orizio. Bishop Vincenzo Viva of Albano said the pope’s renewed presence “has filled our local Church and its inhabitants with joy” and that the concert is a gesture of affection and communion.