Audience
with the Pope

Performer Rie Asai will be the first Japanese performer to perform on October 20, 2023 at the "Religioni unite in musica" (religious concert united by music), which will be held after the World Congress of Religions held at the request of the Pope. We performed. The venue is the Cathedral of San Paolo Fuori le Mura, a World Heritage Site. This concert was held at the Basilica, which is directly connected to the Vatican, after the conclusion of the General Conference of World Religions, with the aim of further deepening harmony among the representatives of each religion, and was attended by 2,000 people, including VIPs. The decision was made to receive an official invitation from the Vatican after Rie Asai's past peace activities and social contribution activities caught the eye.

On October 18th, she had an audience with the Pope, asked for prayers for world peace, and had the opportunity to report on the "Religioni unite in musica" (religious concert united by music). .

The concert on the 20th will be led by Rie Asai from Japan, as well as Kyo Inoue, president of Nagoya Virtuosen (https://virtuosen.jp/), and Shozui Murakami of Tokukozan Kenchuji Temple (Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture). Members including the deputy chief priest participated as a concert delegation.

In the first part, the Christmas mass "Messa per il Santissimo Natale" was performed by the "Coro e Orchestra della Cappella Ludovicea".

In the second part, Chapter 3 Peacefull Waves -with Buddhist Monk Chanting-'' from the koto suitePray for Harmony, Peace and Tranquility'' composed by Rie Asai, will be performed at Kenchuji Temple. A performance praying for peace transcending religious barriers was performed, including a collaboration with Deputy Chief Priest Shōzu Murakami's sutra reading. The performance was so successful that it received a standing ovation and was even covered by local media.