This village band from southern Italy had the chance to meet and perform for Pope Francis.
RAFFAELE SIMONE
Vice Mayor, Castelvenere, Italy
We have come for the Pope with the village band that was founded in 1994—a band that started with 10 people. Today we have grown to a group of 80 people.
But their musical talents were not the only thing they shared with the Pope. With an economy almost entirely centered around their vineyards, the production of wine is the livelihood of their town. And even Pope Francis got to have some.
RAFFAELE SIMONE
Vice Mayor, Castelvenere, Italy
We gave him a little box of products from our town and told him about the wine we produce.
We are the first town of Italy, a tiny municipality of 3,000 inhabitants, so almost 90% of the population of this town produces wine.
After meeting with the Pope and getting the chance to promote their wine, the band of Castelvenere continued to march and play through the streets of the Vatican.
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