Young people in an overflow room in Rome watch a video feed of a concert by Italian group The Sun
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When the head of the Pontifical Council for Culture said he wanted to listen to what today's young people had to say, he wasn't afraid to hear it belted out at 100 decibels, reports the Catholic News Service on NCR Online.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi invited members of the Italian rock group The Sun to speak their minds through music to the cardinals, bishops, lay members and advisers of the council, as well as to a large contingent of foot-stomping, cheering young fans.
The band's 30-year-old lead lyricist and singer, Francesco Lorenzi, confessed that despite being used to playing stadiums with tens of thousands in the audience, knowing "we'd be playing for cardinals, bishops, ambassadors and journalists, we didn't get any sleep last night."
It was the first time a Vatican dicastery had a rock group as the "opening act" of its plenary assembly -- usually a routine, speech-filled, sit-down affair where members come together a few days to discuss a relevant theme.
But if the culture council was going to discuss "Emerging Youth Cultures" for their plenary at the Vatican Feb. 6-9, then what better way to get a feel for the subject than by inviting young people in, the cardinal said.
"We adults, older generations, and we priests have to make an effort to not put (young people) under a sort of microscope, but go to their level and begin to listen a little to what the rhythm of their mind, their heart is like," Ravasi told Vatican Radio.
The Sun's rhythm, created by two guitarists, a bass player and drummer, shook the walls of Rome's LUMSA University on Wednesday as the group delivered songs about their Catholic faith such as "Onda Perfetta" ("Perfect Wave") that says: "I have a whole world full of hopes and dreams, they're illusions only if you don't believe."
While Vatican VIPs weren't dancing in the aisles, many read through the lyrics and applauded with smiles.
FULL STORY Italian rock band opens Vatican culture council's plenary(NCR)