VATICAN CITY — It was impossible to come away from the Concert of Reconciliation unmoved. (Father Alfonso Aguilar didn't; see page 9)

Performed by musicians of various religions at the Vatican on Jan. 17 in the presence of Pope John Paul II and religious leaders from Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the concert did more than words could to encourage reconciliation between the world's three great monotheistic religions, those in attendance said.

“It was awesome and at times breathtakingly inspiring,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See James Nicholson, who helped stage the concert. “It showed the magic of music manifesting itself in front of the three religions and inspiring them at the same time.”

During his address at the concert, John Paul not only urged religious reconciliation but also called on all three religions to work together to bring about world peace.

“Jews, Christians and Muslims cannot accept that the earth be afflicted by hatred, that humanity be troubled by endless wars,” he said. “Today the pressing need is felt for a sincere reconciliation among believers in the one God.”

“The history of relations among Jews, Christians and Muslims is characterized by lights and shadows and, unfortunately, has known painful moments,” said the Pope, flanked by Elio Toaff, former chief rabbi of Rome, and Abdulawahah Hussein Gomaa, imam of the Rome mosque.

Numerous other religious leaders were present, including Israel's chief rabbi, Yona Metzger; the secretary-general of the World Islamic Call Society, Mohammed Ahmed Sharif; and representatives from the Orthodox Churches, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Anglican Communion.

‘Love Conquers All’

Looking healthy and speaking in a clear voice, the Pope continued: “Together we express the hope that men will be purified of the hatred and evil that constantly threaten peace and that they will be able to extend to one another, reciprocally, hands free of violence but ready to offer help and comfort to those in need.”

“Yes! We must find in ourselves the courage of peace,” he said in closing, concluding with the words, “Omnia vincit amor [love conquers all]!”

The concert was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Its aim was “to promote the commitment to a peaceful coexistence among the children of Abraham” and to commemorate John Paul's work for interfaith understanding during his 25 years as Pope.

The first piece to be performed was a world premiere of a composition called “Abraham,” written especially for the event by New Jersey-born composer John Harbison.

Harbison said for his rousing, modern six-minute sacred motet for choir and orchestra he took the text for the composition from Genesis, which presents Abraham as the “father of many nations.”

It was performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, the first time an American choir and orchestra have performed at the Vatican. They were joined by choirs from Turkey, Poland and Great Britain.

The premiere was followed by various movements from Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” an inspiring, unrestrained and emotional piece. Inspired by a poem written by Polish dramatist Adam Mickiewicz, “Resurrection” dramatizes the struggle of mankind toward eternal salvation.

“It was a superb performance,” said Canada's deputy ambassador to the Holy See, Terry Storms. “The Pope's comments were very touching and [the concert] was very encouraging, showing strongly the work of the Church in favor of reconciliation.”

The orchestral choir was conducted by Jewish-American Gilbert Levine, who together with Nicholson conceived the idea for the concert.

Speaking after the performance, Levine said he believed the Pope's efforts and vision during 25 years to bring together these three faiths “reached a remarkable culmination this night” and that he was “particularly touched by the confidence” the Holy Father showed in inviting him to conduct the concert and allowing him to choose the work that was performed.

“It was awe-inspiring and a wonderful gift from the Holy Father,” Levine concluded.

Nicholson said it was “thrilling” to see the animation of the Pope, who at the end called for an encore.

“This is something very close to his heart; he clearly enjoyed it and stayed longer than he usually does — he didn't want to leave!” Nicholson said.

Father Iuvenalie Ionascu of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Rome was equally moved.

“It was beautiful — a prophetic sign for the future,” he said. “It gave much hope, and, I hope, marks for the first time the beginning of true peace for all.”

Thanks to America

Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said after the concert that the veneration of Abraham and the Resurrection are “such powerful points in common — they are more powerful than all the divisions.”

And the cardinal singled out Americans for their contribution.

“Congratulations to your American culture — this was one of the best representations of it,” he said. “I'm sure it will help relations between different faiths because the language of music is universal.”

Chief Rabbi Metzger also spoke about the power of music in bringing about reconciliation.

“Music begins with the ear, it enters the head and is digested,” he said. “Eventually it leads to everyone's heart, from which comes love.”

Visibly moved by the occasion, Metzger spontaneously proposed a reconciliation initiative.

“My dream is to build a center for religions from around the world — a kind of United Nations of religions for which we would have ambassadors from all over the world,” he told the Register. “And I invite the Pope, here this evening, to join me in helping to build it — it's a process that has already begun.”

Metzger, a former captain and chaplain in the Israeli army, met the Pope the previous day with Israel's other chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar — the first visit ever made to the Vatican by Israel's Jewish leaders.

Reflecting on the meeting during which the rabbis asked for the Pope's influence in the fight against terrorism and antiSemitism, Metzger said he was “particularly struck and excited to see how deep is the Pope's will and commitment to make peace” and admired in particular his ability to “connect with all religions.”

Edward Pentin writes from Rome.