Sistine Chapel Choir to make rare visit to US in September

DETROIT (AP) - The “Pope’s Choir” is coming to the U.S. for the first time in three decades.

The Sistine Chapel Choir will perform in New York, Washington and Detroit in September, organizers of the Michigan visit announced Wednesday.

The choir, whose boys and men sing for Pope Francis at his Masses, will perform at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 16; the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., on Sept. 20; and the Detroit Opera House on Sept. 23.

The Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir, officially known as the Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina but unofficially as the “Pope’s Choir,” is the one of the oldest choirs in the world.

Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron called the visit a “particular privilege” for him.

We are proud “that the Holy Father has agreed to the maestro’s request that he be permitted to come here with ’the Pope’s Choir’ for this concert,” Vigneron said during a news event Wednesday at the Detroit Opera House.

Monsignor Massimo Palombella, the director of the Sistine Chapel Choir, appeared on a video message that was played during the event, saying in Italian that the choir “is pleased and honored to return to the United States.”

John Hale, president of sponsor Corporate Travel, says it is the choir’s first visit to the U.S. in more than 30 years.

In addition to the Sistine Chapel Choir’s first-ever visit to Detroit, Comerica Bank official Michael Ritchie says the boys of the choir will take in a Detroit Tigers baseball game at nearby Comerica Park.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Ritchie said.

The boys in the choir concluded the video message by giving a thumbs-up and saying in unison: “See you in Detroit.”

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