Official Anthem Released for Pope’s Historic Visit to Spain
The VIVAFE platform has released "Alza la mirada," a collaborative anthem recorded across four Spanish cathedrals by 1,700 volunteers to celebrate the upcoming historic papal visit to Spain and the Canary Islands.
Preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Spain have moved beyond simple logistics, evolving into an ambitious cultural and spiritual project. The VIVAFE platform has unveiled the official anthem for the visit, titled “Alza la mirada” (“Lift Your Gaze”), a song notable for its complex production and collaborative spirit.
The project brought together 1,700 volunteers from the archdioceses of Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the dioceses of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. To record the piece, organizers used a unique method: on March 21, the song was performed simultaneously in four cathedrals—the Almudena, the Sagrada Familia, the Cathedral of La Laguna, and the Cathedral of Gran Canaria. Under the guidance of producer Pablo Cebrián, this approach aimed to symbolize unity, prioritizing a collective sound over individual performances.
The anthem was written by a team of eleven authors, including prominent figures in contemporary Catholic music such as priests Toño Casado and Jaime Salmonero, members of the groups Hakuna and TUYO, and musicians Marcos Ricbour and Javi Caño. In Tenerife, Estefanía Benedicto coordinated a five-hour recording session at the Cathedral of La Laguna. The cathedral, along with the scenic landscapes of Anaga and Mount Teide, serves as the backdrop for the song’s music video.
The anthem serves two main purposes. First, it acts as a fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting the Church’s social projects. Second, organizers hope the song will remain a lasting resource for prayer and reflection long after the Pope’s visit concludes.
The massive effort required to coordinate these performances across Spain serves as a practical rehearsal for the papal visit itself. This trip is particularly historic for the Canary Islands, as it marks the first time a Pope has included the islands in an official itinerary. Through this anthem, the Church in Spain aims to demonstrate a spirit of unity and active participation, setting the tone for an event of significant institutional importance.