Pope Leo XIV spoke of music's power to overcome division on Wednesday during a peace gathering at Castel Gandolfo marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi.

The Canticle of Peace prayer and fraternal gathering, held in the gardens of the Borgo Laudato Si', was organised by the Laudato Si' Center for Higher Education and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. Children from Israel and Palestine were among the 164 members of the interfaith choir, while Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli also attended.

Many of the children came from countries affected by war and performed songs centred on peace.

Addressing the young singers, Pope Leo described music as "an ideal symbol of harmony and cooperation", adding that it "opens before us a new horizon, and it awakens within us the desire to go out to meet that horizon".

He continued: "We encounter God our Creator. Just as we can follow a stream back to its source, the beauty of music invites us to encounter the one who is beauty itself.”

The Pope also told the children that he prays peace may reign in their homes "and in all those places throughout the world that continue to suffer from violence".