 Sheet music for the "Papal Anthem" | |
National anthem of the Vatican City | |
| Also known as | "Marche Pontificale" (English: "Pontifical March") |
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| Lyrics | Antonio Allegra (Italian, 1949) Raffaello Lavagna (Latin, 1991) |
| Music | Charles Gounod, 1869 |
| Adopted | 1949 |
| Preceded by | "Marcia trionfale" |
| Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version | |
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The "Pontifical Anthem and March" (Italian: Inno e Marcia Pontificale; Latin: Hymnus et modus militaris Pontificalis), also known as the "Papal Anthem", is the anthem played to mark the presence of the Pope or one of his representatives, such as a nuncio, and on other solemn occasions.[1] When the Vatican's flag is ceremonially raised, only the first eight bars are played.[2]
While the Papal Anthem also serves as the national anthem of the Holy See and the Vatican City State, the Vatican stresses that it "is not to be understood as a national anthem"; it is a composition whose words and music "speak to the heart of many throughout the world who see in Rome the See of Peter."[1]