Italian music icon Laura Pausini was recently honored with Billboard Italy’s prestigious Global Icon award during a historic Vatican ceremony. The event, held on Wednesday, November 12, was graced by the presence of Pope Leo XIV, making it a truly memorable occasion. As an integral part of Billboard Italia Women in Music 2025, the ceremony also served to highlight the critical importance of empowering and amplifying women’s voices within the music industry. In recognition of this mission, Pope Leo XIV was presented with a commemorative plaque underscoring the initiative.

Pausini, celebrated for her remarkable career and extensive humanitarian efforts, continues to be a driving force in elevating Italian music onto the global stage. Expressing her profound excitement and honor, Pausini shared with Billboard Italy, “I’m very excited and honored to have received the Global Icon award in the presence of the Pope. It was a moment and an encounter that I will remember forever. I wanted to offer Him what represents my very soul, my voice and my music.” During the ceremony, the superstar presented Pope Leo XIV with a unique, unreleased song: her rendition of “Brother Sun, Sister Moon.” This particular piece draws inspiration from Saint Francis of Assisi’s profound “Canticle of the Creatures” and serves as a celebration of universal brotherhood and the praise of God through creation. Pausini added that His Holiness will become the patron saint of Italy next year and thanked Billboard Italia for selecting her to embody the female voice as a universal language of peace and solidarity.

Beyond her musical prowess, Laura Pausini stands as an ambassador for universal values, including inclusion, solidarity, and peace. Her unwavering commitment to supporting the most vulnerable populations, such as children and those affected by humanitarian crises, is evident through her collaborations with prominent organizations. These include UNICEF, Save the Children, Amnesty International, and the World Food Programme, where she has also served as an ambassador. Her dedication to humanitarian causes further solidifies her status as a global icon.

Recognized as the most awarded Italian artist globally, Pausini’s accolades are extensive. She received the “Icon” award at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards in October, presented by Ozuna. Her influence is also highlighted by her impressive sales of over 75 million records worldwide and more than 6 billion streams, making her the most listened-to Italian female artist internationally. She holds the distinction of being the first and only Italian female artist to win a Grammy Award and has successfully entered the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her career boasts four Latin Grammy Awards, and she was named Person of the Year 2023 by the Latin Recording Academy, becoming the first non-native Spanish-speaking artist to achieve this honor. Further enriching her list of achievements are a Golden Globe, an Emmy Award nomination, and an Oscar nomination.

Pausini’s collaborative spirit has led her to work with an impressive roster of renowned artists, including Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Ray Charles, Phil Collins, Shakira, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson, among many others. More recently, she has performed live with Alanis Morissette and recorded a duet with Robbie Williams for the first official FIFA anthem. Looking ahead, fans can anticipate her upcoming album, “Io Canto 2,” which will be released by Warner Music in 2026, alongside a Spanish version titled “Yo Canto 2.” This album signifies her return to both recording and live performances, accompanied by a new world tour scheduled for 2026 and 2027, commencing on March 27 in Pamplona, Spain. The second Italian edition of Billboard Women in Music will convene in Milan on November 25, 26, and 28, aligning with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. During these three days, eight additional awards will be bestowed upon individuals who are actively shaping the Italian music scene, encompassing both leading artists and dedicated professionals working behind the scenes.