Pope Leo XIV's homily: 6 types of church music to avoid

“Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.”

-Amos 5:23

In a recent homily, Pope Leo XIV reminds us that not all worship is accepted by God. In Genesis 4:5, God rejected Cain's offering which highlights the importance of worship sincerity. God values a pure heart behind the offering, not the physical act itself. The same is true with church music. Entertaining songs—though popular—may have lyrics with hidden temptations. Using scripture, the Pope described 6 types of music that grieve the Holy Spirit, idolize emotion over truth and open doors to deception. From songs written without divine inspiration to melodies of worldly entertainment, his sermon asks to revive elevating and edifying music that connects us to heaven. What does he mean and how do we apply it to our parishes? 

1. Songs not inspired by the Holy Spirit. If something feels "off," it may be a call to seek pure, liturgical and Spirit-filled worship elsewhere. Once we know the Truth, it sets us free.
2. Songs with no Biblical foundation. Popular playlist songs are often used at weddings and funerals. These songs are great for receptions with dancing, but are they appropriate for the unbloodied sacrifice of the Holy Mass or life-altering Sacraments?
3. Songs with worldly melodies and beats. Instrumental jazz lounge, folk melodies or 80's music sans lyrics, are frequent pre-Processionals and post-Recessionals. Closing Thanksgiving's Holy Mass, the pianist launched into her version of "over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go..."
4. Songs that stir emotion over Truth. A Nevada Catholic church opened their liturgy with, "Morning has Broken." The associated artist proclaimed Islam. This is confusing. If we sing this, are we praising his god, Allah? 
5. Songs that glorify the performer. Are we idolizing the performer and performance over the Creator of Life? 
6. Songs that originated from secular culture. One popular music fad is to repurpose tunes from night clubs. Songs that use "O baby, O baby" on Saturday night have become "O Jesus, O Jesus" on Sunday morning.

Pope Leo XIV isn’t condemning music—he’s retuning it. He seeks true worship, the kind that attracts the heart of God and not the emotions of a crowd. The Holy Father asks for church music to lift the soul, glorify God and reflect the sacred mysteries that we profess. If certain hymns, no matter how familiar or emotionally moving, distort doctrine or place man above Christ; then we are right to question them, with humility. Pope Leo XIV’s words are a call for purity: to ensure that the songs in God’s house are worthy of His presence. This is not about personal taste, but reverence, truth and fidelity to the sacred. Music is a powerful vessel and like all things offered to God: it should be holy. We sense when true, God-inspired music touches our soul. In response, let us revisit our libraries of sacred music--painstakingly crafted to bear fruit--for century-surviving masterpieces, to seek this buried pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46).

Thank you, Papa Leo, for nurturing our souls with this gentle and loving reminder.