Over 1,700 voices joined as one in the anthem for Pope Leo’s visit to Spain
By Kielce Gussie – Gran Canaria
First there was the song, “Jesus Christ, you are my life” with Pope John Paul II, “Firm in the Faith”, and “Blessed are the Merciful” with Pope Francis in Poland. Now Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to Spain has given us another beautiful hymn: “Alza la Mirada” (“Look up”).
More 1,700 different voices filmed in different churches around the country make up this anthem for the journey.
It is upbeat, joyful, moving, and catchy. More than a simple song, it is a reminder of what Christians believe: “I lift up my gaze, my eyes on Jesus. I lift my gaze, fixed on the cross. When I look to Heaven, everything is new in its light.”
In a world focused on praising fleeting, temporary moments and promoting materialism, “Alza la Mirada” directs attention to the greater life we are all called to: “I am not made to look at the ground. I was born to look at you…I am restless until I rest in you.”
A voice from the north of Cataluyna
With the lyrics written and the music composed, the search for the voices to put sound and life to the words began. For Pere Paredes Izer, it took just about a week. The church’s youth group in Barcelona started spreading the word they needed to put together a group quickly to record the song.
“That’s how they got in touch with me. I’m actually from another city, but they reached out to me to join,” he told Vatican News. They needed more people, and looked to other parts of Cataluyna.
Once he was part of the team, Pere explained it was all so surreal, especially because he had to be at the iconic Basilica of the Sagrada Familia at 7am to avoid the crowds of tourists that would be flooding into the church in just a few hours.
“It was a very special sensation because we work up very early in the morning,” he recalled. “The Sagrada Familia was absolutely empty.” Pere’s voice joined the others in the group as the sun rose, hitting the stained-glass windows of Gaudi’s masterpiece.
“I do not think I will have something like this in my life again,” he said.
Not only is the location recognizable around the world for its unique mix of artistic and architectural styles—Catalan Modernisme (a Spanish form of Art Nouveau), Art Nouveau, and Gothic Revival—it is something of which locals are very proud. Even though Pere comes from Granollers, outside of Barcelona, he stressed how symbolic the Basilica is for the city.
This towering church ties in perfectly with the anthem. “It is really something you can experience in your daily life as a person who goes to Barcelona at any time of the week because you can see the Sagrada Familia from a lot of places.”
The meaning behind the lyrics
For Pere, the lyrics to “Alza la Mirada” tell him that God is not fixated on the mistakes he’s made or the problems he has. The song means seeing “what is in Heaven, what is above all the things here.”
The hymn, written and made for the entire visit in Spain, is sung not only in Spanish but also Catalan—an important choice for those in Cataluyna. Pere highlighted how Catalan is linked with their identity. “To sing to God in Catalan is to sing to God with this part of our identity too,” he stressed.
He highlighted the importance of the religious experience, a person’s relationship with God. “It is something that does not depend on politics, on cultural or on political identity,” Pere noted. “It is something part of the soul.”
Above expectations and groups
After seven days in Spain, the anthem matched the message, images, and experiences of the Apostolic Journey. Pere believes the Pope’s messages “are not fitting anyone’s expectations or in any group. He is really sending a message which is above all the difference we have.”
Despite his non-partisan messages, Pope Leo did take a stand on one topic: unity. “Alza la Mirada” is a song that is meant to bring people together. It speaks of current global problems and the importance of developing a relationship with God.
Pere hopes that the song will help bring the Christian message to people or help others see it in a different way.
Moreover, “Alza la Mirada” speaks to everyone: from “those who are looking for peace and freedom” to “those who cross the sea looking for a place”. It is a reminder that no matter what political party we support, what language we speak, or where we call home, we are called “to find in Your eyes where to rest.”
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