Everyone who collaborated in the "Avrai" project with Baglioni met the Pope for a private audience Dec. 14 to show him the motive and goal of the concert, and to give him the first 500,000 euros collected.
Donations have so far been collected through ticket sales for the concert, which sold out quickly, as well as through a special text-message service for those who wanted to contribute, but who for some reason were unable to attend the concert.
Bangi's new Cardinal, Dieudonne Nzapalainga, was also present at the new conference. He told journalists that when Pope Francis traveled to the Central African Republic in 2015, he did so "to touch human misery."
"In Central Africa there are many children who want to be cured but can't be," he said, noting that children come to be treated by technicians and doctors in tents, rather than an official building.
Pope Francis saw this "misery" firsthand, the cardinal said, calling the Pope's visit "a blessing" for the entire country. He also thanked the Vatican Gendarmes for their work both during the Pope's trip and in arranging the concert.
"We have also tried to mobilize Central Africa for this project of solidarity. It's something that comes from the heart," he said, noting that "soon it will be Christmas, and this project arrives just in time."
Although he won't be able to attend the concert, Pope Francis is expected to give a "long message" to attendees at the beginning, which will likely be read aloud or shown on video.
In his comments to journalists, Gianni said the concert is above all a response to the Pope's April 2 prayer vigil for the feast of Divine Mercy, when he said that "How nice would it be if as a monument of this Year of Mercy, if there is in every diocese a structural work of mercy: a hospital, a house for the elderly, for abandoned children, a school where there was none, a recovery house for drug addicts."
"It would be nice if every diocese were to think: what can I leave as a living memory, as a living work of mercy?"
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.