Editing Pope Benedict XVI (section)

=== Interest in classical music ===
Benedict was known to be deeply interested in classical music,<ref name="Willey">{{cite news |last=Willey |first=David |date=13 May 2005 |title=Pope Benedict's creature comforts |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4539613.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324142503/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4539613.stm |archive-date=24 March 2011 |access-date=2 February 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and was an accomplished pianist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931189.html |title=Benedict XVI |publisher=Infoplease.com |access-date=14 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820192202/http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931189.html |archive-date=20 August 2011 }}</ref> His favourite composer was [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]], of whose music he said: "His music is by no means just entertainment; it contains the whole tragedy of human existence."<ref name="MozartNCR">{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_38_42/ai_n26705248 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090628130953/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_38_42/ai_n26705248 |archive-date=28 June 2009 |title=Mozart: Catholic, Master Mason, favorite of the pope, ''National Catholic Reporter'' |via=Find Articles |access-date=6 May 2009 | first1=John L. | last1=Allen | year=2006}}</ref> Benedict also stated that Mozart's music affected him greatly as a young man and "deeply penetrated his soul".<ref name="MozartNCR" /> Benedict's favourite works of music were Mozart's [[Clarinet Concerto (Mozart)|Clarinet Concerto]] and [[Clarinet Quintet (Mozart)|Clarinet Quintet]].<ref name="Mark Freer (2006)">Freer, Mark [http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0275.htm Pope Benedict XVI, Mozart and the Quest of Beauty], Catholic Education Research Center. Retrieved 19 October 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110926225907/http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0275.htm WebCitation archive]</ref> Benedict also enjoyed Bach, particularly ''[[Mass in B Minor]]'' and ''[[St Matthew Passion]].''<ref name="Chantal Lafortune (2023)">Lafortune, Chantal [http://www.missiodeicatholic.org/p/the-pope-who-loved-mozart-in-memory.htm The Pope Who Loved Mozart: In Loving Memory of Pope Benedict XVI], Missio Dei. Retrieved 26 April 2025. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230109214217/https://www.missiodeicatholic.org/p/the-pope-who-loved-mozart-in-memory.htm WebCitation archive]</ref> He recorded [[Alma Mater (Pope Benedict XVI album)|an album]] of contemporary classical music in which he sings and recites prayers to the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32234570|title=Pope rock: Benedict sings on album – World news – Europe – The Vatican |date=31 July 2009 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref> The album was set for release on 30&nbsp;November 2009.