Pope Leo XIV at Borgo Laudato si’ for the Canticle of Peace
On , 2026, Borgo Laudato si’ hosted the “Canticle of Peace,” a gathering of prayer and fraternity promoted by the Laudato si’ Higher Education and Training Centre and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, a philanthropic organization, as part of the celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
The initiative paid tribute to the spiritual legacy of the Poverello of Assisi, who, through the Canticle of the Creatures, offered the world a vision of universal fraternity, reconciliation, and praise of the Creator. Eight hundred years after his death, this message continues to speak with extraordinary relevance to a world wounded by wars, divisions, and humanitarian crises, reminding us that peace begins by recognizing one another as brothers and sisters, caring for creation, and looking after one another.
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV led this moment of communion and prayer, joining the participants in invoking the gift of peace for the world, inspired by the universal message of the Canticle of the Creatures.
The gathering was attended by employees of the Dicasteries of the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and the Offices of the Roman Curia. The Pope’s “team” was invited to share an experience of fraternity and communion, renewing together the Church’s commitment to serving peace, reconciliation, and the dignity of every person.
The prayer was accompanied by the voice of Maestro Andrea Bocelli and the ABF Voices choir, composed of 164 children and young people from the Holy Land, Uganda, Haiti, and Italy (Rione Sanità and Camerino). These young people carry with them different stories, often marked by war, poverty, or suffering. Through song, however, they bear witness to the power of art as a universal language of dialogue, hope, and reconciliation.
The initiative forms part of Borgo Laudato si’s mission as a place dedicated to education and formation in integral ecology, where care for creation, the promotion of human dignity, and the commitment to peace come together as a single mission rooted in faith.