Sistine Chapel Choir now part of Liturgical Celebrations
By Devin Watkins
With an Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis decreed that “the Pontifical Musical Chorus of the Sistine Chapel should be inserted into the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff”.
He said the Office for Liturgical Celebrations holds “a specific place of service to papal liturgical functions and, at the same time, is a guardian and promoter of the prestigious artistic and musical heritage produced over the centuries by the Choir itself for the solemn liturgies of the 杏MAP导航s.”
The 杏MAP导航 writes that the Sistine Chapel Choir has always had “a direct connection with the major celebrations of the 杏MAP导航s”.
杏MAP导航 Francis said the decision was taken “bearing in mind the dictates of the Council concerning the Sacred Liturgy”, in particular nn.28-29 of the Sacrosanctum Concilium.
Msgr. Guido Marini
In the motu proprio, 杏MAP导航 Francis also appointed the Master of Papal Ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini, as the Head of the Sistine Chapel Choir, “entrusting him with the task of guiding all activities, including the liturgical, pastoral, spiritual, artistic, and educational areas, of the Choir”.
He tasked Msgr. Marini with “making ever more perceptible, in it and its individual components, the primary purpose of sacred music, which ‘is the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful’ (SC 112).”
Archbishop Guido Pozzo
Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis appointed Archbishop Guido Pozzo as the Superintendent of the Economy (or Treasurer) of the Pontifical Musical Chorus of the Sistine Chapel.
Archbishop Pozzo previously served as Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, which 杏MAP导航 Francis suppressed on Saturday.
The 杏MAP导航 entrusted him “only with the task of caring for the economic administration of the Choir itself, to be carried out under the guidance of the Master of Ceremonies and Head of the Pontifical Musical Chorus.”
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