Did You Know? Pope Francis Released a Progressive Rock Album You Can Listen To

“Wake Up! Music Album with His Words and Prayers” was released by Pope Francis on the 27th of November in 2015. The album was produced by Don Giulio Neroni, who has worked with John Paul II and Benedict XVI in the past.

“Wake Up!” features papal speeches recorded from 2013 to 2015 set to accompanying pop, rock, and classical music tracks of prayers and hymns by various Italian artists and producers.

Most of the album is in Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian. However, the title track “Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!” is in English. It includes the following tracks, with the accompanying speech used to produce it:

1. “Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum!” – Vatican City on 13 March 2013 6:53
2. “Salve Regina” – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 25 July 2013 and Cagliari, Italy on 22 September 2013 5:17
3. “Cuidar el planeta” – Rome, Italy on 20 November 2014 4:46
4. “¿Por qué sufren los niños?” – Manila, Philippines on 18 January 2015 5:20
5. “Non lasciatevi rubare la speranza!” – Vatican City on 7 June 2013 3:57
6. “¡La Iglesia no puede ser una ONG!” – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 25 July 2013 4:49
7. “Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!” – South Korea, 17 August 2014 5:12
8. “¡La fe es entera, no se licúa!” – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 25 July 2013 4:32
9. “Pace! Fratelli!” – Vatican City on 8 June 2014 5:52
10. “Santa famiglia di Nazareth” – Vatican City on 27 October 2013 5:10
11. “Fazei o que ele vos disser!” – Vatican City on 31 May 2013 3:31

“Wake Up!” peaked at #4 Billboard US World Albums charts, with all the proceeds from its sale going to papal charities. If you’re interested in more papal albums, listen to Alma Mater, a Christmas album by Pope Benedict XVI.

Listen to “Wake Up!” below:

Photo credit: Scott Rothstein / Shutterstock.com