VATICAN CITY, MAY 19, 2000 (VIS) - Following the performance last evening in the Paul VI Hall of Haydn's oratory, "The Creation," Pope John Paul addressed the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus and the thousands of guests present at the concert in honor of his 80th birthday, including religious and civil officials, leaders of the Jewish community and representatives of other Churches and ecclesial communities.
Thanking the musicians, chorus and orchestra conductor in particular, the Holy Father observed that the concert "ends a day which for me has been one of fervent recognition to the Lord for the inestimable gift of life and for the many graces with which He has enriched it."
"This solemn musical fresco," he said, "has proposed, through the transparency of sound and the beauty of the text, the dawn of creation . ... But the artistic genius of Joseph Hayden, reproposing with strength and beauty the Biblical story, underlines that the apex of creation was the appearance of man: 'And God made man in His own image, according to the image of God He created him'. ... The conclusion can only be a hymn of praise. 'The magnificent work is done. May our song be praise to the Lord! For He alone is the Most High."
"Brothers and sisters," John Paul II concluded, "Thank you for having offered this singular experience of spiritual and aesthetic meditation on the mystery of creation."
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