Morricone composes Mass for Pope, Jesuits

Associated Press

VATICAN CITY

Oscar-winning Italian composer Ennio Morricone last week premiered a Mass he composed to mark the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Jesuit order and named for its most illustrious member, Pope Francis.

The Jesuits said in a statement that the 86-year-old Morricone conducted “Missa Papae Francisci” last week at the main Jesuit church in downtown Rome, leading Rome’s Symphonic Orchestra and the choirs of the Santa Cecilia Academy and the Teatro dell’Opera. Francis wasn’t expected to attend.

Over his lengthy career, Morricone has composed the scores for a number of Oscar-winning films, including “The Mission” — about heroic Jesuit missionaries in South America. He won a lifetime achievement Oscar in 2007.

The Jesuits were restored in 1814 after being suppressed by Pope Clement XIV.