Jennifer Hudson to Headline Vatican's 'Concert With the Poor' With Pope Leo Attending
Jennifer Hudson will headline the Vatican's "Concert With the Poor" on 5 December, and Pope Leo is scheduled to attend. Variety reported the booking on 10 November.
The concert will be held in the Paul VI Hall of the Holy See, the central government of the Catholic Church. It is the seventh edition of the event. Roughly 8,000 people are expected to take part.
The audience is the most unusual part of the plan. More than 3,000 of the participants are people living in poverty or in vulnerable situations. After the show, all of them will be served a hot takeaway dinner. The event is promoted by the Nova Opera ETS Foundation, an Italian non-profit organisation.
Hudson will perform with the Nova Opera Orchestra and the choir of the Diocese of Rome, the Church's local diocese in the city of Rome. The artistic direction is in the hands of Mons. Marco Frisina, a priest and composer. Italian singer and actress Serena Autieri will also take part in a special appearance.
The concert will be broadcast live on Italian television. Major Catholic broadcasters will also stream it around the world, so viewers outside Italy can follow along online. No details of the broadcasters or the streaming platforms were given in the announcement.
Last year's edition was headlined by Michael Bublé. Pope Leo attended that concert, the first time a pope had come to the Vatican event. This year, he is again expected in the hall.
Hudson is no stranger to the Vatican stage. She performed on 13 September 2025 at "Grace for the World," a concert held in St. Peter's Square. Her return this December makes her a repeat performer at the Holy See within about 15 months.
For viewers at home, the practical details are simple. The concert is on 5 December, it will be on Italian television, and it will stream online through Catholic broadcasters. The guests seated in the hall will get a hot meal when the music stops.
