Concert at the Vatican for the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs

The release of a video addressed to the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs regarding holding a concert in the Vatican made headlines.

A video has been posted on social media showing a concert by Gustave Dudamel on the 80th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's birth, attended by the Pope and seven thousand other spectators, in the "Pont VI" hall in the Vatican.

This video has made a lot of news and the majority of people have posted this video to "Mahmoud Salari", the Deputy Minister of Arts of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Since concerts are prohibited in some cities of Iran, Mahmoud Salari, in response to the question "Why are permitted concerts prohibited in Mashhad?" said: "I have also said this among artists. Has anyone ever held a concert in the Vatican? It is also in Europe. There is no ban, anyone who wants to goes to Milan, Rome or other cities and holds a concert. In fact, there is an argument, Mashhad is an exception in our country. In addition, last year, several programs were held there, especially music from the regions of South Khorasan. Currently, only pop music is not performed in Mashhad itself. Mashhad should not move away from being a pilgrimage city and become a tourist city in this sense. We tried to preserve the spiritual dignity of the city of Mashhad and the pilgrims to the shrine."

Music journalist Bahman Babazadeh wrote in response to Mahmoud Salari's words: "Yes, Mr. Artistic Vice President, a concert is held in the Vatican every year. There is no doubt that Your Excellency has repeatedly shown off the scientific and research load of your advisors and those around you in the music office, but I would like to inform you that many concerts are held in the Vatican every year. The "Rita Ora" concert in the Vatican, the "Gustave Dudamel" concert on the 80th anniversary of the birth of the 16th Pope, are being held."