Bringing statues to life: Pope Clement XIV

1705-1774

Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli was Pope from 1769 until his death. He gave an audience to the 14-year-old Mozart at the papal chapel, at which Allegra’s Miserere mei, Deus was performed.

The music was not allowed to be copied outside the chapel on pain of excommunication; but the young Mozart transcribed it from memory, which prompted Clement to make him a Knight of the Order of the Golden Spur.