Pope meets mountain orchestra and choirs
A concert entitled "A hymn from the Mountain Tops" took place last night in the presence of the Holy Father to mark the UN Year of the Mountains. Pope John Paul II thanked the orchestra from Pecs, Hungary, the choir from Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and the National Union of Mountain Communities, noting that the union "wished to celebrate its 50th anniversary offering the Pope, also a lover of mountains, this very pleasing gift." The Pope who was a keen mountaineer in his younger days, said he followed "the splendid musical compositions of Raff and Brahms," as well as the accompanying images of mountains, "with great emotion," adding that this "has invited us to raise a hymn of praise to the Creator for the marvels of nature, the work of His hands. The arduous majesty of mountain summits stimulates us to underscore those values of tenacity and humility that are indispensable for facing everyday life and for approaching with ardour the high mountain of holiness." Source: Vatican Information Service