New York, NY —

Tomorrow, Pope Benedict the Sixteenth will become the first pope ever to celebrate mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. But as he enters and approaches the altar, it will be the second time a piece of processional music has been played for a pontiff here in New York.

Host: It’s a saga that began in 1987, when Michael Valenti, a composer who lives on the Upper East Side, was asked to write music for Pope John Paul the Second’s visit.

Michael Valenti: I had written a piece called “The Way,” based on the 14 stations of the cross, which was done at St. Peter’s Church, at the Citicorp building. John Michael Caprio, who was the conductor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the time came and he heard the piece and he said, ‘you know, the Pope is to St. Patrick’s and we would love to have a processional for the Pope when he enters the Cathedral and walks down the isle.”

Host: So Valenti wrote a 3-minute processional. Unfortunately, the Pope became ill and the trip was canceled. Then:

Michael Valenti: “Seven years later, I guess it was 1995, I get a telephone call. It’s John Michael Caprio: ‘The pope is coming to Central Park, and now we need an eight-minute piece because it needs to cover his entrance from Fifth Avenue to the altar – which he needs to drive in his Pope-mobile – remember the Pope mobile? [laughs

Host: So Valenti expanded his original piece, and it was performed before a flock of one hundred and twenty five thousand in Central Park. The pope was so impressed with the piece that he asked to meet Valenti.

Michael Valenti: A little while later, 2 guys came out to the audience and they said, "Are you Michael Valenti? I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ They said, ‘well, we’re some of the security and his holiness would like to meet you after mass. He liked your piece."

Host: Valenti’s usual audiences are not major religious leaders but elephants and trapeze artists: This is his seventh year as official composer of the Big Apple Circus. He has also composed numerous works for Broadway and television. On Saturday, his "Processional for a Pontiff" will be performed for Pope Benedict the Sixteenth. He says that as a catholic and as a composer, it’s an incredible honor.

Michael Valenti: It’s a little awe-inspiring really because to have been asked to write something for the Pope is so extraordinary really because there have only been three visits by three popes. It’s a great thrill. How many times do you get the opportunity to write a piece like this for somebody of this importance?

Our segment was produced by Brian Wise.