Meeting with Pope Leo XIV | |
On Thursday, 21 May 2026, representatives of the FIPC Executive Committee travelled to Rome for a meeting at the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. The meeting served as an opportunity for the various church associations affiliated with the Dicastery to get to know one another and exchange ideas. Our President Elisabeth von Waldstein and Treasurer Daniele Perri were able to meet Pope Leo on this occasion. He had previously given a speech. We are deeply grateful for this special and memorable experience.
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Our new Ecclesiastical Assistant:
Piotr Przybysz | |
We are happy to announce that Piotr Przybysz has been approved as Ecclesiastical Assistant to the FIPC. Piotr Przybysz has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Łódź (Poland) since 2008. After returning from specialized studies in church music at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków, he founded and directed the Łódź Cathedral Boys’ Choir for eight years. Since 2018, he has served as the ecclesiastical assistant to the Polish Federation of Pueri Cantores.
“As Ecclesiastical Assistant, I am ready to place my experience and knowledge at the service of the directors and choirs affiliated with the Federation, with a particular focus on passing on the faith and fostering the beauty of the liturgy and our communal celebrations.”
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FIPC board meeting in Málaga | |
From April 24–26, the FIPC board met in Málaga and Guadix, Spain. A key focus was on visiting the venues for the International Congress, scheduled for August 14–18 in Málaga, as well as holding consultations with local organizers.
Another topic of discussion was the newly constituted committees and workgroups, which are intended to advise and support the board in its work. The following groups were established with the approval of the General Assembly in January 2026: the committees for Spirituality, for Music, for International Congresses and for Communication. The workgroups for the Revision of Statutes and Regulations, for Africa and for youth participation. |
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Partnerships with Pueri Cantores choirs from Africa | |
We are still calling for partnerships with African Pueri Cantores choirs in order to integrate them more closely into our Pueri Cantores community. This refers to informal exchanges between two choirs, which can best take place via social media. If you are interested in such an exchange you can register here to be matched with a partner choir.
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| News from National Federations |
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American Federation Festival Season 2026 | |
The AFPC connects thousands of young singers each year. This year, on the 75th Anniversary of Pueri Cantores, 18 festivals brought together 3000 singers from 200 choirs across 66 dioceses, making it their most far-reaching season yet. More importantly, these numbers represent something living and growing: choirs returning year after year, new communities discovering the joy of participation, and young singers experiencing the Church in a deeply personal and unforgettable way.
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15th National Canadian Congress in Trois-Rivière, Québec | |
The 15th National Candian Congress – and the first since COVID – brought together 250 choristers from across the country. On April 25-26, 2026, the little singers met in Trois-Rivières, Québec, for a memorable celebration of music, friendship, and community.
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German-Swedish Choir Encounter | |
From May 8 to 10, 2026, the Erfurt Cathedral Girls’ Choir travelled to Stockholm to participate as a guest choir in a choir meeting of Swedish Pueri Cantores choirs. They met with the Stockholm Cathedral Choir who they already knew from last year’s visit in Erfurt. The return visit continued and deepend the friendship between the two choirs and the young people and reinforced their sense of shared community through singing.
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50th anniversary of Marco Aurelio Lischt at the Canarinhos de Petrópolis | |
From child singer to artistic director: In 1976, Marco Aurélio Lischt joined the Canarinhos Choir of Petrópolis. Fifty years later as beloved conductor of this choir as well as celebrated organist and composer, emotion filled the celebrations of his Golden Jubilee – a lifetime dedicated to the Petrópolis Boys’ Choir and the spirit of the Pueri Cantores. Congratulations and to many more years of inspiring and guiding young people!
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