pope leo xiv mass santa cruz tenerife june 2026

Pope Leo XIV to preside over historic mass in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Musical programme revealed for papal mass in Tenerife

Three choirs, the Insular Band of the Tenerife Federation of Music Bands, and the prestigious organist Juan Luis Bardón will be responsible for the musical liturgy at the Eucharist presided over by Pope Leo XIV in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at midday on Friday 12 June. Among the highlights, once the Vatican gave its approval to the repertoire, is the performance of the Hymn of the Virgin of Candelaria as the final song, a piece that the American pontiff will join in singing.

Later, when Leo XIV rides through the port area in the popemobile to greet the 50,000 pilgrims expected to attend, it is planned that the hymn composed for the occasion, coordinated by music producer Pablo Cebrián, will also be performed.

Preparations coordinated by local church officials

The preparations for the final Eucharist that Leo XIV will preside over during his visit to Spain, from 6 to 12 June, have been coordinated by Francisco Hernández, canon of La Laguna Cathedral and responsible for the liturgy, together with Norberto Hernández, delegate for singing. On the musical side, the Novae Vocal Ensemble, directed by Roxana Schmunk, with the participation of members of the Casino de Tenerife Choir, forms a choir made up of singers from various musical groups and parishes across Tenerife. They began rehearsals a week ago, days before the Vatican gave its final approval to the proposed repertoire.

Also taking part in the Eucharist will be the Orfeón La Paz de La Laguna, under the direction of Juan Felipe Rodríguez Hernández, and the Epifanía Choir from the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in La Laguna; one of its members will be the psalmist for the celebration presided over by Leo XIV. A total of 150 people make up the choir, which will be positioned to the right of the stage to lead the liturgy.

Recovery of a historic sacred work

The ensemble directed by Roxana Schmunk will be responsible for performing five sections — Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei — from the Mass in D Minor by the La Laguna-born composer Julio Navarro Grau (1910-1988), considered one of the most valuable works in the Canarian sacred music heritage. Composed in 1965 in its first version for organ, mixed choir and four soloists, the work was premiered in 1969 at the Teatro Guimerá, by then with the orchestral addition. After decades without being performed again, the composition has recently been recovered thanks to the research and rescue work led by Tenerife contralto Montserrat Giró.

The performance of the mass will be directed by Roxana Schmunk and will feature four soloists: Arantxa Cooper as soprano, Montserrat Giró herself as contralto, Jorge Cordero as tenor, and Andrés Campovari as bass. They will be joined by Juan Luis Bardón on the organ, whose participation is essential in a work of great technical and musical demands. The process of recovering the work culminated in its revival in April 2025 at the Basilica of Candelaria, where it was performed in its entirety for the first time, marking a milestone in the recovery of the Archipelago’s sacred repertoire.

Community collaboration for a historic celebration

The Orfeón La Paz de La Laguna and the Band of the Tenerife Federation of Music Bands will perform together in a production where all participants are collaborating voluntarily, as an artistic and community contribution to a celebration of special significance that will provide a fitting finale to the Pope’s visit to Tenerife and Spain. Those involved in the musical production also stress the historical importance of the composition and the need to give Julio Navarro Grau, one of the most important Canarian composers of his time — whose work was once performed and broadcast throughout Spain — the recognition he deserves.

The Mass in D Minor, conceived from the composer’s deep devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria, will now be heard before Leo XIV at the Eucharist that marks the culmination of his visit to Spain.

Full musical programme revealed

Alongside the Navarro Grau Mass, a song created especially for this occasion, with lyrics by Eduardo Duque and music by Juan Luis Bardón, will be performed as the entrance chant. The works chosen for the Eucharist, which will take place from midday on 12 June in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, also include pieces by the La Palma-born composer Luis Manuel and the late Bishop Don Felipe Fernández. Chants by liturgist Antonio Alcalde and composer Marco Frisina will also be performed.

The musicians behind the mass

The Novae Vocal Ensemble, directed by Roxana Schmunk, has intensified its preparations for the repertoire in working sessions held on recent Fridays and Sundays. Alongside the meticulous work of the choir, the prestigious organist Juan Luis Bardón will also take part. Bardón, born in La Orotava in 1994 and a graduate in Art History from the University of La Laguna, also holds a Master’s in Musical Heritage from the University of Granada. He completed his professional studies in piano at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Professional Conservatory and in organ at the Ángel Barrios Professional Conservatory in Granada under Professor Juan María Pedrero, a period during which he received the Extraordinary Award for Professional Music Education from the Andalusian regional government. He is considered a leading authority in his field.

The papal mass will also feature the participation of a well-known ensemble in the choral world, the Orfeón La Paz de La Laguna, under the direction of Maestro Juan Felipe Rodríguez, who is enjoying a spring of intense activity within the historic choir founded on 2 February 1918. From this afternoon, the choir will be immersed in rehearsals at its base on Calle Juan de Vera, with its sights set on having the work ready to blend with the Band of the Tenerife Federation of Bands.

Although this was not the objective, La Laguna will be represented by its Cristo and the Orfeón at the final mass of the apostolic journey. There will also be a reference to the patron saint of the Canary Islands, the Virgin of Candelaria, and the director of the Las Candelas band, Mauro Fariña, at the head of the island band, with all the musical arrangements signed by his mother. Thus, the great farewell celebration of the Pope’s visit to Spain is taking shape.

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