Vatican City
"Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March)

Words by: Raffaello Lavagna
Music by: Charles-François Gounod
Adopted: 1950

The "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" is in two parts, as the name suggests, and is performed in the presence of: the Pope; one of his special legates; or on occassion of presentation of Credential Letters by a papal nuncio. The music by noted composer Charles-François Gounod was written in 1857 for the jubille anniversary of Pius IX. Originally, the anthem had Italian lyrics in addition to the Latin ones, but nowadays only the Latin words (slightly modified in 1993) are sung.

See also: Vatican City (1929-1949).