Guilherme Peixoto performed for two hours at Plaza de Mayo, blending techno beats with religious melodies. The event included three enormous screens projecting images of Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II, and white doves. According to The Independent - Main, Silvia Garaggiola described attending to remember the Pope and finding Peixoto's approach original if done respectfully. The exact date and attendance numbers for the Buenos Aires rave remain unconfirmed.
Peixoto is a Portuguese Catholic priest ordained in 1999, partly due to religious vocation and partly to fulfill his mother's promise to God. He has gained celebrity status in electronic music, with 2.8 million followers on Instagram and over 220,000 monthly streams on Spotify. He began playing electronic music at universities and organizing parties in the 2000s to raise funds for his parish. According to The Independent - Main, Jesús Martín described the event as a unique opportunity to see Peixoto for free, contrasting it with expensive club shows in Ibiza.
This is a unique opportunity to see him, and it's free. In Ibiza, you have to pay 150 euros, and up to 2,000 euros for VIP.
Peixoto's fears of reprisals from superiors dissipated when Pope Francis assumed leadership in 2013. Inspired by the Pope, he enrolled in a DJ school, contacted producers, and began composing his own tracks. He gained global recognition after performing at World Youth Day in 2023 before an open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. According to The Independent - Main, Guilherme Peixoto described Pope Francis's messages as an inspiration, emphasizing not being afraid and going to the peripheries. Saturday's set list included Peixoto's hit 'El Grano de Mostaza' and remixes of Bad Bunny and Queen. The current official stance of the Catholic Church on Peixoto's DJ activities is unclear, as is the nature of a life-threatening illness he suffered as a child.
He often said, 'Don't be afraid,' that we had to go out to the peripheries and that 'We shouldn't be afraid to use our hands.' These messages were an inspiration.
I will never lose this connection with Pope Francis. He was the one who touched my heart with this facet of music.
I learned about him when the tribute to Francis was first announced. I came to remember the Pope, but I think what he does is very original, as long as it's done respectfully.