Vatican’s first public concert in 2000 years: Clipse, Pharrell Williams, and more artists perform at ‘Grace for the World’ 

Artists including Clipse, Pharrell Williams, and Karol G performed at the Grace for the World concert on Saturday, September 13. The event was part of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity, held at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

Co-directed by Pharrell Williams, the concert was held as a display of unity and solidarity among humans across the world. It started with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli singing Ave Maria before singing duets with Karol G and Jennifer Hudson. Karol G also sang her 2023 song, Mientras me curo del cora.

Williams performed his 2013 hit, Happy, while Clipse, the duo of Pusha T and Malice, took the stage, marking the first-ever rap act at the venue. They sang The Birds Don't Sing with John Legend, from their album Let God Sort Em Out, which was released on July 11 of this year.

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More about Grace for the World concert as Clipse, Pharrell Williams, and more take stage

'Grace for the World' Concert In St Peter's Square (Image via Getty)

The Grace for the World was part of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity. On Friday, leaders, Nobel laureates, activists, and others gathered in Rome to find solutions to bring people together. The concert took place the following day.

Ahead of the concert, Pharrell Williams said (h/t Complex):

"This is a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in. It is a message of unity and grace for all of humanity."

Andrea Bocelli stated:

"Let us shine a spotlight on humanity with music from the very heart of Christianity and the most important spiritual square, reaching the entire world with a single message of brotherhood and peace."

Other performers at the concert included BamBam, Jelly Roll, and Angélique Kidjo. The free event was reportedly attended by around 70,000 people. Many stayed to celebrate the Pope's 70th birthday on Sunday, but he didn't attend the concert. In his place, his pontiff addressed attendees on Friday, stating:

"The world is currently characterized by conflict and division - it is all the more important that you are united by a strong and courageous 'no' to war and a 'yes' to peace and brotherhood."

The event ended with a drone and light show by Nova Sky Stories, which used drones to make images in the sky inspired by the Sinistel Chapel.

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Bill Burr heaps praise on Clipse

Just around a couple of weeks before the Vatican concert, Clipse received huge praise from comedian Bill Burr. On his Monday Morning podcast, released on YouTube on August 25, he revealed that he attended the duo's show in Los Angeles. He said:

"Dude, it was f*cking unbelievable, the show they put on. Kendrick Lamar came out and did a surprise guest star thing, came out and did a whole song. I thought the f*cking roof was gonna blow off this place. I’m not gonna lie to you."

Burr added:

"I felt like the f*cking old guy there, the level that people were going nuts. That would be like if I went to see AC/DC and Eddie Van Halen came out. Rest his soul. The place went crazy. It was such a great show."

Let God Sort Em Out was Clipse's fourth studio album, but their first in 15 years, as the brothers reunited this year.

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