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“Let’s sing with the Pope” uses social media to teach chant

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Christine Rousselle - published on 05/17/25
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A new initiative from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome aims to help people learn the basics of Gregorian chant.

The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music announced a new series of videos for social media aimed at teaching Gregorian chant to all who want to learn it.

"Let's sing with the Pope," the name of the initiative, is hosted by Fr. Robert Mehlhart, O.P., rector of the Institute.

The videos will "help the People of God sing along with the Holy Father during the upcoming major liturgical celebrations," said the description of the first video in the series.

"It aims to make the rich heritage of Gregorian chant accessible to all — a universal musical and spiritual language for celebrations such as papal Masses and to promote active and conscious participation in the liturgy."

The first chant taught is the first one a person will hear at Mass: the Sign of the Cross, said Melhart.

"Let's note that in the beginning, only the Holy Father sings, but we all make the Sign of the Cross," he added. And in the response "Amen," the second syllable of the word is actually two notes, explained Melhart.

Melhart then teaches the response of "Et cum spiritu tuo," which translates to "and with your spirit."

At the conclusion of the video, a person can follow along with actual footage of Pope Leo XIV chanting the Sign of the Cross and greeting the crowd at Mass using the responses they just learned.

Watch the first video below:

The second video in the series covers the Pater Noster ("Our Father") prayer, and in the third, Melhart explains how to sing the "Embolism" prayer, which follows the Our Father during Mass.

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