Thousands of "Pueri cantores" populate the streets of Rome these days. More than a hundred singing groups from about twenty nations from four continents are gathered in the Italian capital for their International Congress: an event that brings together a hundred choirs, eight years after the last international assembly.
Most of them have an average age of 14 years, but there are singers of 7/8 years and even of about 25 years. The national group with the largest number of choirs present - according to the Italian newspaper Avvenire - is Germany (21), just ahead of the United States, which has come to Italy with 19 choirs. In third place for number of groups present is France, with 12, while Italy will be represented by nine choirs.
The motto chosen for the meeting is "Et in Terra pax" (And peace on Earth), precisely to pursue the goal not only of celebrating concerts, but also to see these young people as ambassadors of peace, thanks to the encounter and appreciation of different cultures and forms of expression.
On Friday the 29th, the four thousand choristers were distributed among the 15 churches in the center of Rome to participate in the celebration of the Mass. From 12.30 to 6.30 p.m., in Santa Maria in Trastevere, in collaboration with the Community of Sant'Egidio, the puericantores will offer prayers for peace, which they will try to spread, combining faith and music.
On Friday evening, 29th, a double event was scheduled: in the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle, a concert entitled "Colors of Pueri Cantores", with the participation of nine choirs of different nationalities, while in the Basilica of Santi XII Apostoli a Gala Concert was held, with the participation of four of the best choirs belonging to the International Federation (FIPC).
It has its origin in the Schola cantorum of the Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois founded in Paris, France, by two music students, Paul Berthier and Pierre Martin, following the motu proprio Tra le sollecitudini (1903) of St. Pius X, which aimed at the renewal of sacred music in worship services and with which the Pontiff intended to offer the Church guidelines in the liturgical sector, presenting them "almost like a juridical code of sacred music".
History of the Pueri Cantores
In 1921, the Schola joined the Cantoria de Belleville. In 1931, it began a period of travels to spread the ideals of the Petits chanteurs à la Croix de Bois throughout the world.
In 1944, the first Pueri Cantores federation was formed and, in 1947, it was officially recognized as a Catholic Action movement by the Assembly of Cardinals and Archbishops of France.
In 1951, following the third International Congress held in Rome, the Holy See approved the first statutes of the Federation.
On January 31, 1996, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed recognition of the Foederatio Internationalis Pueri Cantores as an international association of the faithful of pontifical right.
– Supernatural Foederatio Internationalis Pueri Cantores works for the promotion of liturgical chant, from Gregorian chant to classical and modern polyphony, including contemporary music, composed according to the ecclesiastical norms of the various countries; for the spiritual, intellectual, musical and aesthetic formation of directors and young singers; for the understanding, friendship and mutual help among its members.
In pursuing its goals, the FIPC, by making children experience the joy of serving God through liturgical singing, offers them a path of education in the faith and in the practice of human virtues.
FIPC has 32 federations, 11 of which are correspondents, and is present in 24 countries, as follows: Africa (4), Asia (1), Europe (15), North America (2), Middle East (1), South America (1).
On Saturday, December 30, these children gave three Christmas concerts in three different churches in Rome: St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran and Sant'Andrea della Valle.
On Sunday, January 31, the choirs will be present in various parishes in Rome for the 10 o'clock Mass. The International Congress will culminate with the participation, on January 1, in the Mass that Pope Francis will celebrate in St. Peter's Basilica on the occasion of the World Day of Peace.
