The Vatican witnessed an unprecedented event this Sunday, July 27: the inaugural Catholic Music Awards, an international gala that brought together Catholic artists from every continent in a vibrant and moving celebration of faith, music, and ecclesial communion. Organized by the Ramón Pané Fraternity and Foundation and promoted by Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, the event marked a milestone in the history of contemporary sacred music.

Pope Leo XIV himself, while leading the Angelus prayer, greeted and blessed the participants of the event, recognizing the importance of art as a privileged path for evangelization:

“Art born of faith has the power to touch the soul and bring hearts closer to the Gospel.”

A night of talents at the service of the Kingdom

The gala was hosted by three distinguished presenters:  Azucena Cierco  (Mexico), Maity Interiano  (Honduras), and Priscila Ángel  (Mexico), who offered an elegant, warm, and professional presentation, giving the event a solemn and intimate tone.

Amidst lights, prayer, and applause, great names in international Catholic music paraded. The legendary band Gen Verde opened the evening with a performance that thrilled the audience, and throughout the night, tributes were paid to artists with exemplary careers such as  Andrea Bocelli, Martín Valverde, Monsignor Marco Frisina, Matt Maher, and Alejandro Mejía Pereda.

Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga: “Music is a prayer that sings.”

In his central message, Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga highlighted that:

“Catholic music touches the heart and brings us closer to the love of Christ. Today we celebrate those who, with their voice and their art, build bridges to God.”

At the end of his address, he offered his blessing to all Catholic musicians around the world and encouraged them to continue evangelizing with joy, authenticity, and humility.

An explosion of styles and cultures united by faith

The gala combined multiple genres—from contemporary praise to gospel rap—with unforgettable performances such as:

• Padre Rob Galea – Love You

• Carolina Imperial (Mexico)  –  Song to the Virgin of Guadalupe  with mariachis

• D_Peppe (Italy)  –  Alive

• Debora Vezzani (Italy)  –  Love in Loop

• Aisha Ruah (Spain)  –  Salt of You

• Luciano Lamonarca (USA)  –  Tribute to Saint Pius

• The Sun (Italy)  –  A good reason to live

• Renata (Miriam Fernández, Spain)  –  Ghosting

Each musical performance was interspersed with awards ceremonies in various categories and languages, highlighting the universality of the Church.

Winners: Catholic talent from five continents

The awards were presented in four languages (English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish), recognizing the best in worship, Marian music, evangelization, albums, music videos, and more. Notable winners include:

• Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals  –  Dominican Blessing  (Best Parish Choir)

• Francesca LaRosa  –  My Soul Proclaims  (Best New Artist in English)

• Ziza Fernandes  –  Wandering Heart  (Best Portuguese Song)

• Shout! Koinonia  –  Maràna tha!  (Mejor Canción Italiana)

• Javier Iván Díaz  –  Bread of Heaven  (Best Spanish Song)

• Agustina Baro Graf (Argentina)  –  Todo te lo doy  (Best Latin American Performance)

The international jury evaluated more than 1,400 songs received from more than 40 countries.

A gesture to the Pope and a promise for the future

As a grand finale, Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga presented Pope Leo XIV with a commemorative statuette, recalling the words of Saint Augustine:

“He who sings, prays twice.”

Brother Ricardo Grzona, executive president of the Ramón Pané Foundation, thanked all the artists, technicians, and volunteers, and announced that the event—due to its overwhelming success—could be repeated every two or three years.

In addition, the full broadcast of the event is now available on the official platform:
 www.catholicmusicawards.world

A night that marks a before and after

The 2025 Catholic Music Awards were not just an awards show, but an ecclesial gathering, a global artistic liturgy that witnessed to the power of music to elevate the soul, proclaim the Gospel, and unite hearts across languages and borders.

A new tradition has been born in the heart of the Church.