Here’s the totally unofficial, absolutely joyful playlist of the moments that made the Church in 2025 sing, cry, and hit “share.”
“Regina Coeli” – Pope Leo XIV
On May 11, 2025, just days after his election, Pope Leo XIV prayed the Regina Coeli from the loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica—and chose to sing it. His strong, calm voice over a packed square instantly became the sound of Easter in Rome and the audio logo of a new pontificate.
Watch it here:
@ewtnvatican Regina caeli laetare, alleluia. Quia quem merúisti portáre, alleluia Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. Has risen, as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia. #Vatican #catholic #catholicchurch #leoxiv #popeleo #popeleoxiv ♬ original sound - EWTN Vatican
The bells announcing Pope Francis’ passing
No lyrics. No instruments. Just bells. When Pope Francis died, the solemn peal from St. Peter’s and parish towers around the world became one of the most heartbreaking “tracks” of the year—one sound that took Catholics back to the exact moment they heard the news.
Listen here:
“Extra Omnes!” – Archbishop Diego Ravelli at the conclave
Technically not a song—but tell that to anyone whose heart dropped when those words echoed in the Sistine Chapel. “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”) is the dramatic fade-out of the conclave playlist, when the doors close, the cameras stop, and the cardinals listen for the Holy Spirit.
Here’s the video:
“Habemus Papam!” – Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti
Again, not really a song, but every Catholic heart hears this as a chorus. When Cardinal Mamberti stepped onto the loggia and proclaimed, “Annuntio vobis gaudium: HABEMUS PAPAM,” the cadence of Latin over a breathless square became the most anticipated “drop” of 2025.
Watch the historic announcement:
“Hymn of the Jubilee of Hope 2025” – Msgr. Pierangelo Sequeri & Maestro Francesco Meneghello
Every Holy Year needs an anthem, and the Jubilee of Hope got a full orchestra, full choir, raise-your-rosary-to-the-sky kind of hymn. Sung in Rome and reinterpreted in local languages around the world, it became the soundtrack of pilgrims crossing Holy Doors and rediscovering confession and mercy.
The recording below is the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Peter Latona as director):
“Jesus Christ, You Are My Life” – The Great Jubilee hymn’s comeback
Just when everyone thought the Jubilee of 2000 was “history,” its hymn came roaring back.
“Jesus Christ, You Are My Life” made a nostalgic comeback at the 2025 Jubilee events, uniting at least two generations of pilgrims with the same Christ-centered chorus.
Check out this throwback song below:
@ewtn_news Tor Vergata 25 years apart. From St. John Paul II to Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church is very much alive and full of hope. #Jubilee2025 #Iubilaeum25 #YouthJubilee2025 #JubileeOfYouth #Giubileo2025 #Jubileo2025 #CatholicYouth #YouthInRome #YoungPilgrims #JubileeGeneration #FaithAndYouth #YouthPilgrimage #Rome2025 #YouthForChrist #UnitedInFaith #ChurchOfTheYouth #HopeWithYouth #YouthCelebration #YoungChurchAlive ♬ original sound - EWTN News
“Sarà perché ti amo” – Pilgrims at the Jubilee of Youth
Imagine more than a million young Catholics in Rome, sweaty, joyful, and shouting an Italian pop classic between prayers. “Sarà perché ti amo” became the unofficial after-prayer anthem of the Jubilee of Youth—proof that where there are Catholics and guitars, there will be 80s hits.
See the joy in these videos below:
@stefaniaalejandra_ Peregrinantes in spem 🤍 #paratiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii #europa #jubileo #italia #roma #catolicos #fouryou ♬ sonido original - Stefania González
@iresofi21 #jubileodejovenes2025 #catolicos #roma ♬ sonido original - irene sofia
“Ave Maria” – Michael Bublé’s viral a cappella moment
For Pope Leo XIV’s first “Concert with the Poor,” Michael Bublé was invited, and the pope personally requested Ave Maria. Bublé’s simple a cappella rendition in a sacred setting went online, and Catholics, non-Catholics, and “just here for the music” viewers replayed it until it practically broke Catholic internet.
Watch Michael Bublé’s spontaneous performance below:
“Papal Rave” – The priest-DJ mix
Wait… did the pope throw a rave? Clips of lights and electronic beats outside a Slovak cathedral had the internet buzzing. The reality: a youth celebration hosted by the Archdiocese of Košice, with priest-DJ Father Guilherme Peixoto at the decks and a special video message from the pope blessing the crowd. Holiness and house beats in the same frame.
Check it out:
Feliz Navidad” – Bishop Robert Prevost in Peru
Some bishops read Christmas messages. Bishop Robert Prevost in Peru decided to sing Christmas over 10 years ago, but the clip resurfaces every Advent like a classic carol.
His cheerful “Feliz Navidad,” mixing episcopal dignity with serious-uncle-at-the-party energy, became instant Catholic social media gold and a reminder that joy evangelizes.