Vatican City
Inno e Marcia Pontificale
Pontifical Anthem and March
1869
1950
Antonio Allegra (Italian lyrics, 1991)
Charles Gounod
✝ God / Faith 🌅 Hope ☮ Peace ❤ Love of homeland |
Key Facts
- 1. Vatican City's anthem is the only national anthem in the world performed primarily by a choir rather than a military band, reflecting the city-state's ecclesiastical rather than martial character.
- 2. The anthem is rarely heard at sporting events because Vatican City has no Olympic team or FIFA membership; it is mostly performed at papal inaugurations and major Vatican ceremonies.
- 3. Gounod originally composed the piece as a 'Marche Pontificale' for orchestra, and it existed as a purely instrumental work for over 120 years before any official lyrics were written.
Lyrics
Roma immortale di Martiri e di Santi,
Roma immortale accogli i nostri canti.
Gloria nei cieli a Dio nostro Signore,
Pace ai Fedeli, di Cristo nell'amore.
A Te veniamo, Angelico Pastore,
In Te vediamo il mite Redentore.
Erede Santo di vera e santa Fede;
Conforto e vanto a chi combatte e crede.
Non prevarranno la forza e il terrore,
Ma regneranno la Verità e l'Amore.
Salve, salve Roma, patria eterna di memorie,
Cantano le tue glorie mille palme e mille altari.
Roma degli Apostoli, Madre e guida dei Redenti,
Roma luce delle genti, il mondo spera in te!
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialThe music was composed by Charles Gounod in 1869 for the silver jubilee of Pope Pius IX. Italian lyrics by Antonio Allegra were added in 1991, replacing the original French text. The anthem has been the official anthem of Vatican City since 1950.