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Spoleto: Remembering Saint Pontian, Martyr

Concert by the Musical Band of the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps

Over 700 people attended a concert by the Musical Band of the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State, to celebrate the 1850th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Pontian, Patron Saint of Spoleto. Held on Saturday evening, 12 January, in the Umbrian town’s Teatro Nuovo “G. Menotti”, the concert was attended by Archbishop Renato Boccardo of Spoleto-Norcia, promoter of the event, and by civil and military authorities. The concert began with the Papal Anthem and concluded with the Italian National Anthem. The musicians were conducted by Maestro Stefano Iannilli, assisted by Mr. Mauro Colaiacomo, Deputy Commissioner of the Gendarmerie Corps, responsible for discipline and recruitment. The program included performances of the anthem for the 2025 Jubilee, by Sequeri, The Thieving Magpie, by Rossini, La Tregenda, from the opera Le Villi, Nessun Dorma, by Puccini, Ride of the Valkyries, by Wagner, Bugler’s Holiday, by Anderson, Viktor’s Tale from William’s film, The Terminal, the soundtrack of Metti una sera a cena, by Morricone and Modugno’s Nel blu dipinto di blu.

Just before the end of the evening and before the Band played the Italian National Anthem, Archbishop Boccardo shared a few words: “Perhaps some of you may have wondered: ‘What does a concert have to do with the Feast of Saint Pontian”? I would like to provide two answers. The first is that we wanted this concert to be a homage to the City of Spoleto, which has kept the memory of Saint Ponziano alive for 1850 years. One cannot separate Pontian from Spoleto, or Spoleto from Pontian. It is part of our identity. And I also want to thank all of you, who accepted our invitation to share this special moment together. The second answer is that, from time to time, we need to have moments of beauty that soothe and comfort us. In our world, which is wounded by violence, hatred, abuse of power and war, we need some glimmer of comfort in order to nourish hope, which is what this Holy Year recommends. Hope allows us to see that good is stronger than evil, and enables us to live the time we have left on this earth, more completely and with responsibility. The hope is also that this moment of beauty may help us all live better”.

For the occasion, the Musical Band, via the Deputy Commissioner of the Gendarmerie Corps, Colaiacomo, gave Archbishop Boccardo a painting depicting the Band, known as the singing angels of the Pope.

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