Daniel del Castillo González
Carlos Cordonero came to Rome in 2023 to study philosophy, but ended up rediscovering a passion he brought with him from Nicaragua: singing. He studied vocal technique back home and even founded a choir there.
Today, he is a member of the Cappella Giulia at St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the Church’s historic choirs, founded in 1513 by Pope Julius II.
But an unexpected phone call took him to Castel Gandolfo — and to Pope Leo.
CARLOS CORDONERO
The Roman Cantor
“Well, let’s just say it was a surprise, yes. It was completely unexpected because a dear priest friend of mine wrote to me. I had gone to visit Castel Gandolfo, and I ran into him there. The next day, he wrote to me and said, ‘Could you sing for the pope?’ And I was like — I got scared. I thought he was joking. I said, ‘Come on, no, you’re kidding.’”
The Mass was celebrated at Borgo Laudato Si’ for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
And there was another unusual element at a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the pope: mariachi musicians.
CARLOS CORDONERO
The Roman Cantor
“When we rehearsed, I was really impressed by how beautiful all the instruments sounded together. The group was pretty ‘bravo,’ as they say in Italian. And I really enjoyed the experience. It was the first time in my life I had ever sung with mariachi — the first time.”
The Nicaraguan singer did not know that after Mass, he would have the chance to speak with Pope Leo XIV.
CARLOS CORDONERO
The Roman Cantor
“So I started writing a letter to the pope, and I thanked him very much for the opportunity to sing at a Mass he presided over. I told him a little about the need young people have for music today — about the project I was working on. And, almost as an afterthought, I said, ‘Well, I hope that someday I can sing a Mass for him.’”
That project is The Roman Cantor, an initiative he started with an organist that aims to bring sacred music to different audiences in several languages.
CARLOS CORDONERO
The Roman Cantor
“To create that sense of unity in the Catholic Church, which is very much needed, and which I believe is one of the Church’s main goals at this moment.”
He continues his training with the Cappella Giulia, where the repertoire demands polyphony, Gregorian chant, Lauds, and Vespers.
