Canadian singer Michael Bublé is preparing to take the stage at the Vatican’s annual Concert with the Poor, an event dedicated to lifting the hearts of those most in need through beauty, dignity, and the joy of the Advent season. Speaking ahead of the performance, the internationally renowned artist reflected deeply on faith, vocation, and the spiritual power of music.
At a press conference before the concert, Bublé spoke openly about his belief that artistic gifts point to something far greater than human talent alone. “When I hear music, I hear the voice of God,” he said, according to Vatican News. For Bublé, music is not simply entertainment, but a window into the divine—one he hopes to share generously with those who will fill the Paul VI Audience Hall on 6 December.
The Concert with the Poor, established in 2015, welcomes thousands of homeless individuals, migrants, and those living in hardship. After the performance, attendees receive a warm meal and essential items. The gathering becomes a moment not only of cultural celebration, but a spiritual reminder of the Church’s closeness to those who carry heavy burdens.
This year, Bublé found himself especially moved by a request from Pope Leo XIV. He shared that he asked Vatican friends if there were any particular songs the Holy Father hoped to hear. “One of the Holy Father’s requests was Ave Maria,” according to Vatican News—a piece Bublé admitted he has sung only once before. The weight of the moment was not lost on him. “When he asked, I was very nervous, I didn’t want to let him or any of you down,” he said. Yet he added that with the support of the choir and orchestra, “there’s no [need to] fear.”
Bublé also revealed that many selections in the program were chosen at the Pope’s request, underscoring the unique spiritual tone of the evening.
When asked how his faith shapes his artistic life, Bublé said his beliefs guide “everything he does and every decision he makes,” according to the same report. He hopes that his public presence communicates “kindness, hope, and love”—qualities he sees as inseparable from Christian witness. In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, the singer described faith as interior strength: “When you have faith, you have your own pilot light… If you have that faith and you have that light inside you, you can find your way.”
His participation in the concert, he said, is an opportunity to offer that light to others, especially those carrying invisible or profound suffering. “Music is a gift from God,” Bublé explained, according to Vatican News. Being able to share that gift with people who may feel forgotten humbled him deeply: “I get to spread the good Word, and the fact that it’s a concert with people that could be suffering… suffering brings you closer to God.”
Bublé also reflected on how the event serves as a lesson for his own children. He told Vatican News that when his family encounters a homeless person, he reminds them they can “see God in those in need.” Performing for the poor at the Vatican, he said, is “another example of how to be.”
Though the audience will be different from the glamorous venues he often plays, Bublé said his approach remains rooted in one thing: encounter. “My joy is a connection, truly a spiritual connection with the audience. They’re beautiful souls,” he said. As he does before every show, he plans to offer a simple prayer before stepping on stage: “Thank you, God, for blessing me with the ability to connect with these beautiful souls.”
Through music, faith, and heartfelt service, Michael Bublé’s performance aims to bring Christ’s light into the Advent season—especially for those who need that light the most.
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