printI’m sure I recognized Mrs. Newt Gingrich in the papal mass choir that sang so sublimely for Pope Francis (who seemed to be dozing off). The music still honored by the Catholic Church—mostly Western, J. S. Bach being the God of music—is enough to make a classical-music loving Jew convert. Callista is famous for her helmeted hair-do, and now for her devotion to music. Indeed:
A devoted Catholic, Mrs. Gingrich is a member of the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., a resident professional choir.
The five groups scheduled to perform include a gospel choir, the Catholic University Chamber Choir and a “Papal Mass Choir” of 90 participants selected from more than 300 people who auditioned in the D.C. area.