Zucchero and Bono sing emotional rendition of ‘Canta La Vita’ at Rome’s Colosseum in honour of 50th Earth Day

Zucchero and Bono singing 'Canta La Vita' in front of Rome's Colosseum — Zucchero and Bono singing ‘Canta La Vita’ at illuminated Colosseum in Rome. Photo courtesy of Earth Day Network

Musicians Zucchero and Bono perform together in front of the illuminated Colosseum in Rome and His Holiness Pope Francis sent a message of hope for the planet to the global community today in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2020. | article | music video

A few hours before daybreak, world-renowned musicians Zucchero “Sugar” Fornaciari and Bono sang Canta La Vita, adapted from Bono’s Let Your Love Be Known, marking an incredible artistic partnership between the two artists. Zucchero plays the piano and both musicians sing. The final part of the song merges their voices to launch a worldwide message of union.

See the music video of Canta La Vita: Youtube.com/CoreMagazines: https://youtu.be/ZGdq12B6Vgg

Zucchero and Bono singing”Canta La Vita” in front of the illuminated Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Video courtesy of Earth Day Network

Italy was chosen to lead the opening ceremony by the Earth Day Network. Earth Day Italia dedicated the event to Pope Francis because of his ongoing support of environmental issues.

“Italy – Earth Day Italia – has been called to open the world celebration of Earth Day dedicating it to Pope Francis who has done so much to create awareness on climate change,” Pierluigi Sassi, President of Earth Day Italia. “After the universal forgiveness offered to the world by a completely empty St. Peter’s Square, we thought that raising a song with an extraordinary artist like Zucchero, in front of a Coliseum lit up in blue in an empty eternal city, would have been the best way to say thank you to the Pope and collect His powerful message of hope. I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.”

“This celebration of Earth Day by Pope Francis is one that we know will galvanize the world to support our planet,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day. “We are so moved by Zucchero and Bono’s musical collaboration of Canta La Vita and we know everyone around the globe will be united and touched by this emotional song.”

As the bells of St. Peter’s struck half past nine, the message to the general audience address began. Usually held in St. Peter’s Square, the address was beamed out in multiple languages to audiences around the world from the library of the Apostolic Palace due to the coronavirus pandemic. Through the Vatican’s extended media network on the 50th Earth Day on Wednesday, Pope Francis suggested that “as the tragic coronavirus pandemic has taught us, we can overcome global challenges only by showing solidarity with one another and embracing the most vulnerable in our midst.”

After a passage from the Book of Genesis was recited, referring to humans as keepers of the garden, Pope Francis reminded his audience that, we live in a common home as one human family, “in biodiversity with God’s other creatures.” And, we have failed in our responsibility to care for the earth, “our garden home,” as well as for our brothers and sisters. He quoted his own work, Laudato Si, from 2015, saying our home “has fallen into serious disrepair,” endangering our very lives. For this reason various movements have sprung up. We need a new way of looking at our common home, one with a harmonious vision, as the earth sustains humanity. We need to act locally and nationally, to “contribute in our own small way” for the movement to grow. Earth Day itself was born that way.

Earth Day Live Starts at 9am ET on April 22 EarthDay.org

This global event will be hosted by Ed Begley, Jr. and his daughter, musician and actress Hayden Begley. Earth Day Network has received support from members of the global community, through personal video messages, performances, artwork and calls-to-action for Earth Day 2020, including:

His Holiness Pope Francis
Steve Ballmer, USAFacts Founder and Former Microsoft CEO
Hayden Begley, Co-Host
Dave Beran, Michelin Star Chef
Aloe Blacc, Musician
Andrea Boccelli, Award-winning Singer and Songwriter
Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal, Governor of the State of Yucatán
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (TBC)
Michael Franti, Musician
Mrs. Maria Elena Freire, Head of Environmental Education, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kathy Freston, Chef
Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director, General for Education, UNESCO
Mr. Bernardo Goytacaces, Secretary of Education of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Natalie Isaacs, Founder and CEO of 1 Million Women
Lisa Jackson, VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, Apple and Global Advisory Committee Member
Valerie Jarrett, Former Senior Advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama
Jack Johnson, Musician
Maya Lin, Architect and Global Advisory Committee Member
Josh Lucas, Actor
Edward Markey, Senator from Massachusetts
Ziggy Marley, Musician
Dave Matthews, Musician
Arizona Muse, Model
Jason Mraz, Musician
Nahko, Musician
Vanessa Nakate, Founder of Youth for Future Africa and the Rise Up Movement
Diana Nyad, Long Distance Swimmer
Ambassador Javier Paulinich, General Secretary of SELA, Latin American and Caribbean Economic System
Mr. Gabriel Quijandria, Vice Minister of Environment of Peru
Ingmar Rentzhog, Founder of ‘We Don’t Have Time’
Najib Saab, Secretary General, Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED)
Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya, President of African Wildlife Foundation and Global Advisory Committee Member
Cody Simpson, Actor
Ashok Sridharan, President of ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability and Mayor of Bonn
Yana Abu Taleb, Co-Director of EcoPeace Middle East
Minister Victor Manuel Toledo, Minister for the Environment of Mexico
Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts
Roger Waters, Musician
Mayor Jorge Munoz Wells, Mayor of the City of Lima
Christine Todd Whitman, Former Governor of NJ and Global Advisory Committee Member
Jason Wrobel, Chef