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Views from the Choir Loft

Tu Es Petrus

Aurelio Porfiri · August 26, 2014

DON’T THINK POPE FRANCIS needs my words to defend him, because he would know very well how to do it himself. Also, to be honest, while I cannot say that I agree on everything he is doing, in general I believe that he deserves a deep respect for his actions.

Before continuing, I must ask my readers to avoid a very big mistake that is quite common in Catholic literature, the belief that if you defend Pope Francis it means you are against Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, and that if you exalt Benedict XVI it means you hate Pope Francis; neither of which is true my case. If you read my posts here and in other places, or my books and articles, you immediately will feel that I belong to the side of Benedict. Indeed I have a deep admiration and respect for him, and his ideas have influenced me a lot. This will never change. However, I realize that to put the two popes one against the other is a nonsense, as they address different problems in our society, with a different perspective and with a different worldview and background. They have different interests and priorities, and this is shown in their pastoral action.

First we face the issue of liturgy; of course Pope Benedict was very sensitive on this issue, being a lover of beauty as expressed in Catholic Tradition, a lover of music and art; this makes me feel, even now, still very close to him. My book “Il canto dei Secoli” was described by a theologian very close to Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings as deeply influenced by the thinking of the German Pope. I confirm, and still now confront myself with this great Pope. Pope Francis is a man of deep faith but the reflection about the issues surrounding liturgy is not among his priorities. He wants again to show the mercy of Jesus in a very troubled world, and is doing this with his actions, that of course are very easily misunderstood.

At present, it seems he hasn’t changed anything spectacular in the liturgy, with the exception of the document about the sign of peace, that indeed was not seen with favor from progressive liturgists. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was used to visiting the very poor in the slums of Buenos Aires and so has seen the deep frailty of our humanity. This is why I like his phrase, about the Church being a “field hospital,” because we are all weak and in need of help and forgiveness. We are all burdened with sins and we need understanding together with the need to find the right way. Cardinal Newman has said that “we are going to heaven backward”; yes, despite our efforts and a few exceptional models in the saints, we should be honest with ourselves and recognize our weak nature and our need for help, help where we are (the field hospital), to be reached where our sins most hurt.

I hope I am not mistaken when I say that Pope Francis is acting in this direction in his own peculiar way; of course, being himself a sinner too (as he defines himself when asked by an Italian journalist) he may also misread situations and commit mistakes. In that occasion we can only hope that the words of Jesus, “Tu es Petrus,” will be for him the best cure and will be enough to restore his spirit and help him in the titanic mission of giving to a lost world the only hope that can still save it.


BOTTEGA • Aurelio Porfiri is where you can discover
many of Mæstro Porfiri’s compositions in PDF format.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Every experienced choirmaster’s work is founded on the following three axioms: (1) Few boys have a really good natural voice; (2) No boy is able to control his voice and produce good tone without training; (3) Most boys have a good ear, and considerable imitative capacity. It is on the last of these axioms that the choirmaster must begin his work.”

— Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1912)

Recent Posts

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  • Now Available! • “Hymns of Cardinal Newman: Kevin Allen’s Legendary Choral Settings”
  • Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

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