The first-ever Catholic Music Awards, or ‘Catholic Grammys,’ took place Sunday evening at Rome’s Auditorium Conciliazione and the award ceremony marked a historic global event in the Catholic music world.
By Vatican News
This past Sunday, July 27, the first-ever Catholic Music Awards were successfully held, a historic global event in the Catholic music world.
The so-called Grammys of Catholic music are a major international event celebrating excellence in Catholic music in Spanish, English, Italian and Portuguese.
The award ceremony, whose follow broadcast can be viewed here on the event’s official website, was held at the Auditorium Conciliazione at 7pm and was broadcast live on social networks for the faithful and fans around the world.
The international gathering, which was requested by Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga and organized by the Ramón Pané Foundation and Fraternity, according to a press release from the organizer, was a true celebration of faith, beauty, and talent, bringing together the most outstanding Catholic artists.
In fact, even Pope Leo XIV, during his remarks following the midday Angelus address, greeted and blessed the CMA singers.
Catholic Music Awards 2025
Joyful ceremony full of faith
During the ceremony, Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga delivered a message in which he praised the organization and highlighted the essential role of music in evangelization. “Catholic music touches the heart and brings us closer to the love of Christ,” he affirmed.
The Cardinal also offered his blessing to all Catholic musicians around the world, encouraging them to continue sharing their gifts with joy and humility.
Subsequently, honorary recognitions for artistic legacy were awarded to: Andrea Boccelli, Maestro Alejandro Mejía Pereda; Monsignor Marco Frisina; Martín Valverde; and Matt Maher, who also performed a song in English.
The evening opened with a performance by the group Gen Verde and a wide variety of live performances followed. The musical performances were interspersed between the awards, creating an atmosphere of prayer, joy, and global communion.
Gratitude expressed by organizers
Brother Ricardo Grzona, Executive President of the Ramón Pané Foundation, expressed his gratitude to all participants, recongizing there had been over 1,400 song submissions from around the world, as well as to the techncial and creative teams.
The organizer also announced that Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga has requested this event to continue every two or three years, given the overwhelming positive response and global impact of this inaugural edition.
In a symbolic gesture, Cardinal Maradiaga presented a commemorative little statue to Pope Leo XIV, recalling that the Holy Father is an Augustinian and quoting Saint Augustine’s timeless wisdom: “He who sings prays twice.”
Cardinal Maradiaga presented a commemorative little statue to Pope Leo XIV (@Vatican Media)
This historic celebration of Catholic music concluded with hearts lifted in gratitude and the firm conviction that the power of sacred music will continue to build bridges of faith and unity throughout the world.
The winners
One can discover the full list of award winners by language below.
ENGLISH
Robert Galea – Love You (Best Praise-Worship Song)
Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals – Dominican Blessing (Best Parish Choir)
Fr. Maximilian M. Dean – Song to Mary (Best Marian Song)
Debora Vezzani – Mother of God (Best Catechesis Song)
Mariana BE – New Life (Best Evangelization Song)
Priscilla Salisbury – Rejoice Greatly (Best Female Singer)
Luciano Lamonarca – The Song of Saint Pio (Best Male Singer)
Sarah Hart – All The Earth Alive Rejoicing (Best Album)
Andrean Peters – Wonderful Love (Best Rock Song)
Juan Camilo Pérez – Holy (Best Pop Song)
James J. Wright – Drawn Back to the Table (Best Production Song)
Gen Verde – We Choose Peace (Best Music Video)
Francesca LaRosa – My Soul Proclaims (Best New Singer)
JoEmma Vomvolakis – Be Still (Best English Song)
PORTUGUESE
Jonny Mendes – Em Tua Presença Senhor
Maíra Jaber – Espelho de Mulher
Amor e Adoração – Entre Nós
Raní Jaber – Jamais te deixei só
Thiago Tomé – Outro igual não há
Marcelle Rocha – Mar do Coração
Cassiano Menke – Água Viva
Pitter Di Laura – Até Jesus Voltar
Rosa de Saron – A Rosa e o Espinho
Albanita Silva – Nada Temerei
Ziza Fernandes – Coração Errante
Rosa de Saron – Baile das Máscaras
Flavio José Ferreira – MIKHA’EL
Vida Reluz – Justo é o Senhor
Reale & Ziza Fernandes – No Teu Nome
ITALIAN
Shout! Koinonia – Maràna tha!
Kantiere Kairòs & Dajana – Complice a Cana
Tiziana Manenti – Kyrie Eleison
Acordis – Una Casa sulla Roccia
Elena Martelli – Vivi per qualcosa di grande
Debora Vezzani – Amore in Loop
Marco Mammoli – Eccomi
D_Peppe – Vivo
Reale – Sono Rimasto Vivo
Reale – Migliore
Gen Verde – La Via della Pace
The Sun – Appunti verso la fine del mondo
Carolina Bongiovanni – A casa da te
The Sun – Senza te non si può fare
The Sun – Un buon motivo per vivere
SPANISH
Nathali Paredes Lozano – Te Pertenezco
Agnes Choir – Ven a mí
Ana Noriega Rodríguez – Aquí traigo mi tinaja
Javier Iván Díaz – Pan del cielo
Adveniat Banda Católica – La tarde del pastor
Freddie Chavarría – Dios no fallará
Blanca Guadalupe Aguilar – Belleza de amor
Johann Álvarez – Hoy te amo más
Aisha Ruah – Sal de ti
Carlos Andrés Ferrera Palma – Jesucristo Salvador
Aldana Canale – En Ti Confío
Swing de Fe – Llena de gracia
Jesús Israel Salas Jurado – Necesito de ti
Joaquín Francisco Nicolás Chávez – Mi medicina
Jessica Zuluaga – Qué amor más grande
Miriam Fernández (Renata) – Ghosting
Carolina Imperial – Jamás dejaste mi lado
Zamar Adoración – Poderoso Nombre
Agustina Baro Graf – Todo te lo doy