"We are here to celebrate the beauty and joy of love, and to spread the good news of the family," said Msgr. Carlos Simon Vasquez, Undersecretary of the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, in his presentation of the new event in the project "The Great Mystery. The Gospel of the family school of humanity for our times," on Saturday night in St. Stephens Basilica in Budapest,.
Accompanied by the Óbudai Danubia Zenekar Orchestra under the direction of Marcello Rota, the young Ukrainian violinist Anastasiya Petryshak, and the Vox Humana Choir, the tenor Andrea Bocelli performed a rich repertoire featuring Händel’s Hallelujah, Rossini's Stabat Mater, the Ave Maria of Schubert and Verdi's Va pensiero.
Bearing greetings from Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Congregation for the Laity, the Family and Life, Msgr. Carlos Simon Vasquez emphasized, in the presence of Cardinal Peter Erdö, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, the evocative power of this place dedicated to St. Stephen, highlighting that "he was a king, a husband, and a father, and he also cared for the religious life of his people, planting the roots of a solid Christian culture. His wife, Gisella of Bavaria, supported him in all his work and, after his death, withdrew into a monastery. This story—he noted—is about the people, the family and life, and about the love, rooted in faith, that sustains them."
Undersecretary Vasquez then evoked how Prefect Farrell is encouraging the project "The Great Mystery," conceived and produced by the then Pontifical Council for the Family in collaboration with Maestro Andrea Bocelli master, who hopes to visit the new Department soon.
For photos and videos of the concert, see:
