For Pablo Cebrián, this Friday’s visit of Pope Leo XIV to La Laguna will be far more than a professional milestone.
The acclaimed producer, composer and artistic director behind the official anthem of the Pope’s visit to Spain will perform the piece in Plaza del Cristo, just a short distance from the streets where he grew up, discovered music and first dreamed of a career on stage.
It’s a moment that brings his story full circle.
A Homecoming Like No Other
Cebrián will be one of the key figures welcoming Pope Leo XIV during the final day of the Pontiff’s historic visit to Spain.
The anthem, created specifically for the papal visit, will be performed alongside singers from La Laguna who joined the project, adding a special local connection to an event of international significance.
Reflecting on the experience, Cebrián admits he could never have imagined such an opportunity.
“If someone had told me a year ago that I would be involved in the anthem for the Pope’s visit and that I would be singing it in La Laguna with people from my hometown, I would never have believed it,” he said.
From La Laguna to the National Stage
Born and raised in La Laguna, Cebrián’s connection to the city runs deep.
His childhood memories are tied to places such as Camino Largo, Plaza del Adelantado, La Concepción, El Cristo and the area around what is now the Cuadrilátero.
These were the streets where he formed his first bands, wrote his earliest songs and performed some of his first live shows.
One of those performances still makes him smile today: convincing the owner of a local café near Plaza del Cristo to allow a group of teenagers to play hard rock in a venue that probably had something very different in mind.
A Career Built Through Music
In 2001, Cebrián moved to Madrid determined to build a career in music.
More than two decades later, he has become one of Spain’s most respected producers and composers, working with major artists and contributing to countless successful projects.
Despite his success on the mainland, Tenerife has never been far away.
He says he has never gone more than three months without returning to the island.
The Biggest Challenge of His Career
Among all his achievements, Cebrián describes the visit of Pope Leo XIV as something unique.
“This has been the biggest challenge of my career, and I feel that everything I’ve done before has prepared me for this moment,” he explained.
During the papal vigil in Madrid, he had the opportunity to meet the Pope and witness the anthem performed live before an audience of more than half a million people.
Yet what has impressed him most has been the dedication of the hundreds of volunteers helping to make the visit possible.
He also spoke of his admiration for Pope Leo XIV’s energy and demanding schedule, describing the Pontiff’s visit as a gift arriving at exactly the right moment.
A Special Moment in La Laguna
When Cebrián performs the anthem in Plaza del Cristo, he will do so not only as a successful producer and composer, but as someone returning to the place where it all began.
The child who played in La Laguna’s streets, the teenager forming bands with friends and the young musician chasing a dream will all be present in that moment.
And as he prepares to sing for Pope Leo XIV in the city that shaped him, the words often attributed to Saint Augustine, founder of the Pope’s religious order, seem particularly fitting:
“He who sings prays twice.”