When Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass at Nationals Park on April 17, he will be accompanied by four choirs totaling 570 members, singing in ten languages from across the Archdiocese of Washington.
He will hear a 65-voice Intercultural Choir with members from 35 countries singing in French, Zulu and Spanish, among others. A 250-voice Papal Mass Choir and a 175-voice Children's Choir will sing in Latin. The uplifting sound of an 80-voice Gospel Choir will ring out across the stadium.
The musical program for the Mass was chosen by an archdiocesan committee, with approval from the Vatican .
"It is music that represents our long Catholic and Christian tradition and the current diversity of our church," said Tom Stehle, director of music for the Mass and pastoral associate for liturgy and music at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Potomac , Maryland .
In the Archdiocese of Washington, nearly 580,000 Catholics worship in more than 20 languages at 140 parishes.
Musical highlights during the processions and prelude the program includes:
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