On September 13, 2025, St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican was transformed into an immense stage that welcomed hundreds of thousands of people under the title “Grace for the World.” This was not just another concert, but a cultural and spiritual event of worldwide scope that sought to unite music, faith, fraternity, and hope.

The esplanade where countless massive liturgical celebrations have taken place became, for one night, the meeting point of internationally renowned artists, choirs, religious and social leaders, and, above all, a public that vibrated with the idea that music can become a universal language for peace.

The Purpose

The event took place within the framework of the Third World Meeting on Human Fraternity and the celebrations of the 2025 Jubilee Year. Its goal was clear: to proclaim a message of unity, justice, and compassion, inviting us to see one another as brothers and sisters beyond differences of culture, creed, or nation.

Pharrell Williams himself, producer and creative soul of the project, expressed it clearly: “Grace is a light that lives in each of us, waiting to be shared. It’s not just a blessing that we receive, but a force that we extend to one another.”

A Constellation of Voices

The lineup of performers was as diverse as it was impressive. Among them were:

• Andrea Bocelli, who opened the concert with Teddy Swims singing Amazing Grace, a beginning full of symbolism that moved the crowd to tears and applause.
• Pharrell Williams, who not only performed but also delivered one of the most inspiring speeches of the night.
• Karol G, the Colombian singer who made history by bringing urban music to St. Peter’s Square, reminding everyone that popular music is also a vehicle of hope.
• John Legend, with his hymn Glory, evoking Martin Luther King Jr. and the struggle for civil rights.
• Jennifer Hudson, Jelly Roll, Teddy Swims, BamBam, Angélique Kidjo, Clipse, and the Nova Opera Orchestra along with the choirs of Rome and Voices of Fire.

Each performance was crafted to convey a message: from gospel to opera, from pop to hip hop to reggaeton, every style intertwined to create a mosaic of unity.

Words that Lit Up the Night

One of the most memorable moments came when Pharrell asked the audience to raise their cell phone lights, creating a sea of lights in the square: “This is the power we have when we come together. This is 300,000 lights, all denominations, all peoples.” And he added: “Too often humanity sees difference as danger. But grace whispers: wait. Curiosity asks: why? Imagine if instead of saying, ‘you are not like me,’ we asked, ‘what can I learn from you?’”

John Legend, in turn, recalled Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream: “Love means seeing and valuing each other’s humanity, no matter where we live, what we look like, or who we worship. That is the love the world needs.”

Another powerful speech came from Graça Machel, widow of Nelson Mandela, who proclaimed: “Only justice rooted in empathy, fairness, and integrity can heal and rebuild trust. Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Congo, Myanmar, Mozambique… we must commit ourselves to bringing just peace everywhere violence has stripped us of our humanity.”

The concert Grace for the World was a living manifesto that culture, music, and spirituality can meet on the same stage to deliver a message to the world: fraternity is not a utopia, but a path that begins with every act of grace, curiosity, and compassion.

As Pharrell said: “This is how walls become windows and borders become bridges. Your light becomes my light, and my light becomes yours.”

On that magical night in the Vatican, the echo of those words became a promise: that of a world united by grace.

You can watch the concert here: