 Sheet music for the "Papal Anthem" | |
National anthem of theVatican City | |
| Also known as | "Marche Pontificale" (English: "Pontifical March") |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | Antonio Allegra (Italian, 1949) Raffaello Lavagna (Latin, 1991) |
| Music | Charles Gounod, 1869 |
| Adopted | 1949 |
| Preceded by | "Marcia trionfale" |
| Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version | |
The "Pontifical Hymn" (Italian:Inno Pontificio),[1] also known as the "Pontifical Anthem and March" (Italian:Inno e Marcia Pontificale;Latin:Hymnus et modus militaris Pontificalis), is theanthem played to mark the presence of thePope or one of his representatives, such as anuncio, and on other solemn occasions.[2] When theVatican's flag is ceremonially raised, only the first eightbars are played.[3]
While the Papal Anthem also serves as thenational anthem of theHoly See and theVatican City State, the Vatican stresses that it "is not to be understood as a national anthem"; it is a composition whose words and music "speak to the heart of many throughout the world who see inRome theSee of Peter."[2]
The music was composed in 1869 byCharles Gounod, for the celebration on 11 April 1869 ofPope Pius IX's golden jubilee of priestly ordination. The purely instrumental piece in three parts,[4] originally called "Marche pontificale" (French for "Pontifical March"), became extremely popular from its first performance.[2][3] It was first performed that day at four o'clock in the afternoon with seven pontifical bands and a chorus of over one thousand soldiers.
On 16 October 1949,Pope Pius XII declared it the papal anthem, replacingViktorin Hallmayer's "Marcia trionfale" (1857), which, being still the papal anthem when the Vatican City State was founded in 1929, had been treated also as the new state's anthem. Gounod's "Marche Pontificale" was first performed in this new role during a ceremony onChristmas Eve of 1949, one day before the opening of theHoly Year 1950. The old state anthem too was played for a last time, almost as a token of respect.[2]
At that time,Antonio Allegra (1905–1969), who was then one of the organists ofSt. Peter's Basilica, wroteItalian lyrics[5] for Gounod's music. Other lyrics have been composed for the music in various languages and by different authors.[5] In 1991,Raffaello Lavagna ofSavona (1918–2015) wroteLatin lyrics for a four-voice choir, on an arrangement byAlberico Vitalini.[4]
| Italian original[5] | English translation[5] |
|---|---|
Roma immortale di Martiri e diSanti, | ORome immortal of Martyrs andSaints, |
| Latin original[5] | English translation[5] |
|---|---|
Chorus: | Chorus: |
O felix Roma, O felix Roma nobilis. |
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