Michael Bublé has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world, but one appearance clearly meant something different to him.

During the Vatican’s Concert with the Poor on December 6, 2025, the Canadian singer stood inside the Paul VI Audience Hall and delivered a deeply emotional performance of “Ave Maria” — a song personally requested by Pope Leo XIV.

For Bublé, the moment carried an unusual amount of pressure.

Before the concert, he revealed that he had asked whether the Pope had any particular songs he would like to hear. “Ave Maria” was among the requests.

There was just one problem: Bublé said he had performed the piece only once before.

Despite initially feeling nervous about taking on such a meaningful song in such an extraordinary setting, the singer ultimately embraced the challenge. With the Choir of the Diocese of Rome and the Nova Opera Orchestra behind him, he performed the prayer in Latin before an audience of thousands.

A performance that clearly meant more than another concert

More than 8,000 people attended the sixth edition of the Concert with the Poor, including around 3,000 guests from vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

Bublé’s appearance included several of his familiar songs alongside Christmas standards, but “Ave Maria” became one of the evening’s defining moments.

The significance of the occasion was visible throughout his performance.

Bublé described being at the Vatican with his wife, parents and friends as an experience beyond anything they could have imagined. He later said the day left him with a renewed sense of peace, hope and faith.

For an artist accustomed to sold-out arenas and international audiences, performing before the Pope appeared to affect him in a very different way.

Pope Leo XIV joined in, too

The evening wasn’t entirely solemn.

During Bublé’s performance of the classic “L.O.V.E.”, Pope Leo XIV could be seen enjoying the music from his seat.

The Pope smiled, clapped along and even joined Bublé in singing during the concert. The lighthearted interaction quickly became another memorable part of the evening.

Bublé’s set also featured favorites and Christmas songs including “Feeling Good,” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and other selections accompanied by orchestra and choir.

Yet it was the Pope’s personal request that gave the evening its most intimate moment.

Music with a bigger purpose

The Concert with the Poor was created as more than an opportunity to hear famous performers.

The Vatican event places people experiencing hardship at the center of the evening. At the 2025 edition, thousands of guests from vulnerable backgrounds were welcomed to the concert, with a meal provided afterward for approximately 3,000 people.

Pope Leo XIV spoke after the performance about music’s ability to reach beyond ordinary conversation and connect people at a deeper level.

For Bublé, faith and music have long been closely connected. Before the concert, he explained that music represents love and hope for him and spoke about the role faith plays in his life.

That made his rendition of “Ave Maria” particularly fitting.

There were no elaborate effects needed. A singer, an orchestra, a choir and one of the world’s most recognizable sacred songs were enough to create a moment that felt far removed from a typical celebrity performance.

And judging by Bublé’s own reaction, the evening will remain one of the performances he remembers most.

Watch Michael Bublé’s Vatican performance below.