View source for Pontifical Anthem

{{Short description|National anthem of Vatican City}}
{{Infobox anthem
| title         = Inno e Marcia Pontificale
| alt_title     = "Marche Pontificale"
| en_alt_title  = "Pontifical March"
| image         = Himno Pontificio.pdf
| alt           = Music sheet
| caption       = [[Sheet music]] for the "Papal Anthem"
| country       = the [[Vatican City]]
| author        = [[Antonio Allegra]] (Italian, 1949)<br>Raffaello Lavagna (Latin, 1991)
| lyrics_date   = 
| composer      = [[Charles Gounod]]
| music_date    = 1869
| adopted       = 1949
| predecessor   = "[[Marcia trionfale (Hallmayer)|Marcia trionfale]]"
| sound         = United States Navy Band - Inno e Marcia Pontificale.ogg
| sound_title   = [[U.S. Navy Band]] instrumental version
}}
{{Vatican city}}

The "'''Pontifical Anthem and March'''" ({{langx|it|Inno e Marcia Pontificale}}; {{langx|la|Hymnus et modus militaris Pontificalis}}), also known as the "'''Papal Anthem'''", is the [[Honors music|anthem]] played to mark the presence of the [[Pope]] or one of his representatives, such as a [[nuncio]], and on other solemn occasions.<ref name="vpageEn"/> When the [[Flag of Vatican City|Vatican's flag]] is ceremonially raised, only the first eight [[bar (music)|bars]] are played.<ref name="vpageIt"/>

While the Papal Anthem also serves as the [[national anthem]] of the [[Holy See]] and the [[Vatican City|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 [[Holy See|See of Peter]]."<ref name="vpageEn"/>

==History==
The music was composed in 1869 by [[Charles Gounod]], for the celebration on 11 April 1869 of [[Pope Pius IX|Pope Pius IX's]] golden jubilee of priestly ordination. The purely instrumental piece in three parts,<ref name="vaScore"/> originally called "Marche pontificale" ([[French language|French]] for "Pontifical March"), became extremely popular from its first performance.<ref name="vpageEn">[http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/stato-e-governo/note-generali/inno.html Pontifical Anthem and its History]. From the official site of Vatican City State. Accessed on 2009-06-21.</ref><ref name="vpageIt">[https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/sp_ss_scv/inno/inno_scv_storico_it.html Pontifical Anthem and its History] (in Italian). From the official site of the Holy See. Accessed on 2009-06-21.</ref> It was first performed that day at four o'clock in the afternoon with seven pontifical bands and a chorus of over one thousand soldiers.

On 16 October 1949, [[Pope Pius XII]] declared it the papal anthem, replacing [[Viktorin Hallmayer]]'s "[[Marcia trionfale (Hallmayer)|Marcia trionfale]]" (1857), which, being still the papal anthem when the Vatican City State was founded in 1929, had been treated also as the new state's anthem. Gounod's "Marche Pontificale" was first performed in this new role during a ceremony on [[Christmas Eve]] of 1949, one day before the opening of the [[Jubilee in the Catholic Church|Holy Year]] 1950. The old state anthem too was played for a last time, almost as a token of respect.<ref name="vpageEn"/>

At that time, [[Antonio Allegra]] (1905–1969), who was then one of the organists of [[St. Peter's Basilica]], wrote [[Italian language|Italian]] lyrics<ref name="vaLyr">[https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/sp_ss_scv/inno/inno_scv_testo_it.html Inno Pontificio] lyrics, with brief historical notes and MIDI file. From the official site of the Holy See. Accessed on 2009-06-21.</ref> for Gounod's music. Other lyrics have been composed for the music in various languages and by different authors.<ref name="vaLyr"/> In 1991, [[Raffaello Lavagna]] of [[Savona]] (1918–2015) wrote [[Latin]] lyrics for a four-voice choir, on an arrangement by [[Alberico Vitalini]].<ref name="vaScore">[https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/sp_ss_scv/inno/inno_scv_partitura_coro_indice_it.html Score for choir of four voices by Alberico Vitalini with original Latin text by Monsignor Raffaello Lavagna]. From the official site of the Holy See. Accessed on 2009-06-21.</ref>

== Lyrics ==
=== Italian lyrics by Allegra (1949) ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Italian original<ref name="vaLyr" />
!English translation<ref name="vaLyr" />
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>{{lang|it|italic=no|[[Rome|Roma]] immortale di Martiri e di [[Patron saint|Santi]],
Roma immortale accogli i nostri canti:
Gloria nei cieli a [[God in Christianity|Dio]] nostro Signore,
Pace ai Fedeli, di [[Jesus|Cristo]] nell'amore.

A Te veniamo, Angelico Pastore,
In Te vediamo il mite Redentore,
Erede Santo di vera e santa Fede;
Conforto e vanto a chi combatte e crede,

Non prevarranno la forza ed il terrore,
Ma regneranno la Verità, l'Amore.

Salve Salve Roma, patria eterna di memorie
Cantano le tue glorie, mille palme e mille altari
Roma degli Apostoli, Madre guida dei redenti
Roma luce delle genti, il mondo spera te!

Salve Salve Roma la tue luce non tramonta
Vince l'odio e l'onta lo splendor di tua beltà
Roma degli Apostoli, madre guida dei redenti
Roma luce delle genti, il mondo spera te!}}</poem>
|<poem>O [[Rome]] immortal of Martyrs and [[Patron saint|Saints]],
O immortal Rome, accept our praises:
Glory in the heavens to [[God in Christianity|God]] our Lord,
And peace to men who love [[Jesus|Christ]]!

To You we come, Angelic Pastor,
In You we see the gentle Redeemer,
The Holy Heir of true and holy Faith;
Comfort and refuge of those who believe and fight.

Force and terror will not prevail,
But Truth and Love will reign.

Hail, Hail Rome, eternal homeland of memories
Your glories sing, a thousand palms and a thousand altars
Rome of the Apostles, Mother guide of the redeemed
Rome, the light of the people, the world hopes for you!

Hail, Hail Rome! your light does not go down
Hatred and shame overcomes the splendor of your beauty
Rome of the Apostles, guiding mother of the redeemed
Rome light of the people, the world hopes for you!</poem>
|}

=== Latin lyrics by Lavagna (1991) ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Latin original<ref name="vaLyr" />
!English translation<ref name="vaLyr" />
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>{{lang|la|italic=no|{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
O felix Roma – o Roma nobilis:
Sedes es Petri, qui Romae effudit sanguinem,
Petri cui claves datae sunt regni caelorum.
Pontifex, Tu successor es Petri;

Pontifex, Tu magister es tuos confirmans fratres;
Pontifex, Tu qui Servus servorum Dei,
hominumque piscator, pastor es gregis,
ligans caelum et terram.

Pontifex, Tu Christi es Vicarius super terram,
rupes inter fluctus, Tu es pharus in tenebris;
Tu pacis es vindex, Tu es unitatis custos,
vigil libertatis defensor; in Te potestas.

{{small|'''Vox acuta, vox altera ab acuta:'''}}
Tu Pontifex, firma es petra, et super petram
hanc aedificata est Ecclesia Dei.

{{small|'''Vox media, vox gravis:'''}}
Pontifex, Tu Christi es Vicarius super terram,
rupes inter fluctus, Tu es pharus in tenebris;
Tu pacis es vindex, Tu es unitatis custos,
vigil libertatis defensor;  in Te potestas.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Chorus'''}}}}

O felix Roma – O Roma nobilis.}}</poem>
|<poem>{{small|'''Chorus:'''}}
O happy Rome - O noble Rome
You are the seat of Peter, who shed his blood in Rome,
Peter, to whom the keys of the kingdom of heaven were given.
Pontiff, You are the successor of Peter;

Pontiff, You are the teacher, you confirm your brethren;
Pontiff, You who are the Servant of the servants of God,
and fisher of men, are the shepherd of the flock,
linking heaven and earth.

Pontiff, You are the vicar of Christ on earth,
a rock amidst the waves, You are a beacon in the darkness;
You are the defender of peace, You are the guardian of unity,
watchful defender of liberty; in You is the authority.

{{small|'''Sopranos, altos:'''}}
Pontiff, you are the unshakable rock, and on this rock
was built the Church of God.

{{small|'''Tenors, basses:'''}}
Pontiff, You are the vicar of Christ on earth,
a rock amidst the waves, You are a beacon in the darkness;
You are the defender of peace, You are the guardian of unity,
watchful defender of liberty; in You is the authority.

{{yesitalic|{{small|'''Chorus'''}}}}

O happy Rome - O noble Rome.</poem>
|}

=== Alternative Latin lyrics ===
{|
|- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;"
|<poem>{{lang|la|italic=no| O felix Roma, O felix Roma nobilis. 
O felix Roma, Roma felix Roma nobilis.
Sedes es Petri, qui Christi vicem gerit,
Sedes es Petri, qui apostolus est pacis.

𝄆 Pontifex tecum erimus omnes nos
Pontifex es magister qui tuos confirmas fratres. 𝄇

Pontifex fundamentum ac robur nostrum,
Hominumque piscator pastor es gregis ligans terram et coelum.

𝄆 Petre, tu es Christi es Vicarius super terram,
Rupes inter fluctus, tu es pharus ac veritas.
Tu Christi es caritas, tu es unitatis custos,
Promptus libertatis defensor; in te auctoritas. 𝄇

O Roma nobilis – O Roma felix nobilis.<ref name="vaScore"/>{{efn|The alternative Latin lyrics can be found in the images in each of the part links.}}<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/519Xtbs_4Ys Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201227101013/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=519Xtbs_4Ys Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=519Xtbs_4Ys|title=National Anthem of Vatican City (Holy See): Inno e Marcia Pontificale|website=[[YouTube]] |date=12 April 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}</poem>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Music|Vatican City}}
* [[Index of Vatican City-related articles]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*[[Media:Pontifical March.pdf|PDF]], info [[:File:Pontifical March.pdf|here]]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090608212502/http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/General_informations/Anthem.htm Official site of Vatican City State]
* [http://nationalanthems.me/vatican-city-holy-see-marche-pontificale Streaming audio, lyrics and information about the Pontifical Anthem] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20180513161138/http://nationalanthems.me/vatican-city-holy-see-marche-pontificale archive link])

{{Vatican City topics}}
{{Charles Gounod}}
{{Nationalanthemsofeurope}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Royal anthems]]
[[Category:Culture of Vatican City]]
[[Category:Compositions by Charles Gounod]]
[[Category:1869 compositions]]
[[Category:European anthems]]
[[Category:National anthems]]
[[Category:Christian hymns in Latin]]
[[Category:Catholic hymns]]