Context here.
Papal address in Italian here, starting after some music, and an intro.

If the Pope Francis really wants to slight the “musicians who want to make known again the great treasures of sacred music,” then 1) why are Msgr. Marini and posse still there after His Holiness has had almost six years of chances to get rid of them, and 2) why are his publicly broadcast masses almost completely filled with the sort of chant and sacred polyphony that we all seem to love around here? Shouldn’t we be glad that he shows appreciation for the importance of sacred music in the liturgy or am I missing something here?

I did not know of Frisina, he is quite prolific - of film accompaniments. Rushing to hasty judgement after listening to just one work, this seems to be the modern equivalent of the operatic music which plagued the church 150 years ago (and since). Good for a TV mini-series, ok as a backing track to a papal meet-and-greet (is that Frisina's music for the first 7 minutes?), bad for worship of God.

From Crux yesterday

Monsignor Marco Frisina, dubbed by some as “the pope’s composer” due to the number of his scores played during papal liturgies, ....

As vapid as the art, like this jubilee logo.

Faith does not compel agreement with the Pope on liturgical matters.

In this case, I propose that His Holiness is mistaken: choirs do not “animate” congregations. That’s what, ahem, priests do, by singing the Mass. When the priest sings his part, the congregation naturally sings in response since so much of what the priest does prompts a communal response. GIRM 40 is clear on this.

Much of the hand-wringing about congregational singing occurs against the backdrop of an unfortunate inversion of this model: for many clergy, a processional hymn or two is “basic”, then add the Ordinary, and only for really solemn occasions would the priest be bothered to chant any of his own part. Regardless of concern over whether the choir sings alone once or (gasp!) “even” twice during the Mass, we should start singing the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, dialogues, etc. When that happens, it’ll become clearer that the choir’s role basically can’t overtake the congregation’s singing without violating the rubrics.

The Holy Father has said on other occasions that Mozart is his favorite composer.

The Holy Father has said on other occasions that Mozart is his favorite composer.

Was this said in the context of a composer as one of sacred music, or, as one of music for the arts in general? There is a difference, and even a Pope is allowed to have a favourite composer who might not be (anywhere near) the best composer of sacred music.

...whether you have a good voice...

I have often said to people by way of encouragement when they lamented their musical skills, 'the psalmist said to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". The only people who have to do so in tune are the choir'. (Most people, though, can sing well enough - if only they would.)

Yes, the vision for music at High Mass in the 1958 instruction was, sadly, largely overshadowed by the torrential changes that followed it. Would that things had played out differently … but, here we are.

Chris -

Let us all pray that it never gets bred out of them. Catholics are bred into silent acquiescence and very blind obedience which translates into passive 'participation' at mass. (And then people wonder why Catholics don't sing!) There are, of course, numerous places (I think that there must surely be here and there) which are the exception.

I think that the Ordinariate's heritage, though, will survive being 'bedfellows' with this regime. Being an Ordinariate (a non geographical 'diocese' with our own bishop) is a crucial factor. It all hangs on passing our patrimony to the younger generations, and it seems that that is being done. There is, of course, much more to the Anglican patrimony than liturgy and music, though liturgy is the font of it all. There is a particular spiritual literary heritage, peculiar ecclesiastical art, architecture, literature, music, personal devotion, and an intense consciousness and focus on the ineffable majesty of God in private life and public ritual. Too, there is a long line of distinctive English mystics and a line of unique saints such as Becket (no other country has produced a Becket! or a Thomas More) and others right up to modern times. The next generation is crucial and I think, from observing our youth, that the future looks bright. Anglicans don't need cantors and hymn leaders to tell them what to do when at mass. They know what to do when and they do it heartily and with one voice. When it is time to sing or make a response to the priest you very well know that the people are there! We are a people who love beautiful liturgy and joy in it, and don't mind if it takes more than a stingy, begrudged hour. To quote the psalmist, 'we have a goodly heritage', and our people are deeply thankful to HF Benedict for providing a safe haven for it. Our youth know what they have and are grateful for it.

Some of our people who several years ago had been to some convention of Catholics 'back east' returned saying that all the other Catholics viewed them with disbelief, saying 'are you sure you are Catholic? You are so happy!' Indeed, I have more than once got a dirty look when joyfully singing or participating at an ordinary OF mass.

[Tongue in cheek]

Well, Francis, I guess that just shows that even intelligent people do stupid things once in a while?

They delegate to the choir or the altar boys.

In this area, the congregation was never 'active' in song or spoken response during the '50's and early '60's. Don't know why. That has carried through at the EF Mass, though; you never hear a thing from them. Can't definitively state that it's a result of Irish influence (Thomas Day's thesis) b/c a lot of the priests and Bishops here were German.

However, a couple of folks from Chicago's St John Cantius occasionally show up at an EF Mass in the Diocese just west of here and are "dialog Mass" active.