Wake Up! combines the sacred hymns of the Christian tradition reworked by contemporary composers and musicians with Pope Francis’ voice. Pronounced in 4 different languages, we hear excerpts of 11 of the most significant speeches given during his election including the invitation to “Wake Up” given to the youth of Southeast Asia and Korea in 2014. The album’s tracks range from pop to rock, from Latin music to Gregorian chants, and represent a harmonic link between tradition and modernism. It is contemporary music that communicates with the language of tradition.

Wake Up! includes 11 tracks where the Pontiff addresses universal issues such as peace, work, dignity, care, and attention for people most in need. We can hear the Pope speaking in Italian, Spanish, English, and Portuguese to allow everyone to take away the hopes that Pope Francis has for each one of us. The album comes with a 24 page booklet that includes prayers, lyrics, and extracts featured on the album in the original language used by the Holy Father as well as translations in English and Spanish.

“Cuidar El Planeda” contains a literal rearrangement of the beautiful ‘Cantico delle Creature’ by San Francesco D’Assisi that was part of a speech given by The Pope in Rome and is one of the albums most suggestive tracks. The other 10 hymns, from “Salve Regina” to “Veni Sancte Spiritus” are all rearranged in modern style by highly talented musicians with Don Giulio Neroni heading the artistic direction. Wake Up! boasts prestigious contributions from Giorgio Kriegsch, Tony Pagliuca (founding member of the legendary band ‘Le Orme’), Mite Balduzzi, Giuseppe Dati, Lorenzo Piscopo, and the orchestral director Dino Doni.

It is widely recognized that the Holy Father Francis is a forward thinking spiritual leader who has given the Catholic Church a new energy. The Pontiff has millions of followers who turn to him for prayers, requests, and intervention, but also to guarantee fundamental rights such as employment and peace. This album, now, can be seen as an instrument to carry on the hopes and ideals that Pope Francis has for each of us.

Part of the proceeds from the sales of the album will be donated to a support fund for refugees.

TRACKLISTING:

1. “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum!” (6:54) – Extract Of Speech in Italian. First greeting from the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica – Vatican City (13th March 2013) Music Track: Tu Es Petrus with an insert of Adonai (Jewish traditional prayer)
2. “Salve Regina” (5:17) – Extracts Of Speeches in Spanish and Italian. Meeting with young people from Argentina in the Cathedral of St. Sebastian Cathedral in Rio De Janeiro – Brazil (25th July 2013) Music Track: Salve Regina
3. “Cuidar el planeda” (4:46) – Extract Of Speech in Spanish. Speech in the occasion of the Pope visit at FAO in Rome – Italy (20th November 2014) Music Track: Cuidar El Planeda (Cantico delle creature in Spagnolo)
4. “¿Por qué sufren los ninos?” (5:20) – Extract Of Speech in Spanish. Speech in occasion of the meeting with young people at the sports field of St. Thomas University in Manila The Philippines (18th January 2015) Music Track: Jesu dulcis memoria
5. “Non lasciatevi rubare la speranza!” (3:57) – Extract Of Speech in Italian. Speech to the students of the Jesuit schools of Italy and Albania at the Paul VI Audience Hall – Vatican City (7th June 2013) Music Track: Christe Redemptor Omnium
6. “La Iglesia no puede ser una ONG!” (4:49) – Extract Of Speech in Spanish. Meeting with young people from Argentina at the Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Rio De Janeiro – Brazil (25th July 2013) Music Track: Ubi Carita et Amor, Deus ibi est
7. “Wake up! Go! Go! Forward!” (5:12) – Extract Of Speech in English. Homily during the closing Mass for the VI Asian Youth Day at the Haemi Castle – South Korea (17th August 2014) Music Track: Ego sum Resurrectio et Vitam
8. “La fe es entera, no se licua!” (4:32) – Extract Of Speech in Spanish. Speech on the occasion of the meeting with young people from Argentina at the Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Rio De Janeiro – Brazil (25th July 2013) Music Track: Vexilla regis prodeunt
9. “Pace! Fratelli!” (5:52) – Extract Of Speech in Italian. Invocation for peace together with Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican Gardens – Vatican City (8th June 2014) Music Track: Veni Sancte Spiritus
10. “Santa famiglia di Nazareth” (5:10) – Extract Of Speech in Italian. Prayer on the occasion of the Family Day on the square of St. Peter's Basilica – Vatican City (27thOctober 2013) Music Track: Santa Famiglia di Nazareth
11. “Fazei o que Ele vos disser!” (3:31) – Extracts Of Speeches in Portuguese and Italian. Homily during the Holy Mass in the Basilica of the Shrine of “Our Lady of the Concemption of Aparecida” - Brazil (24th July 2013) Music Track: Ave Maris Stella