Italian Fans Love Madonna, The Vatican Doesn’t

Madonna has upset the church once again with a mock crucifixion during a concert in Rome. Fans seemed to look past the symbolism and enjoyed the show, but the Vatican has called the singer’s display a blasphemous challenge to the faith.

The Church and Madonna have never really seen eye to eye on religion, and her concert in Rome on Sunday was no different. As part of her ‘Confessions’ tour, the stop in Rome placed the singer right in the backyard of the Catholic Church’s headquarters. The concert, which was held in the city’s Olympic Stadium, sits only 2 miles from The Vatican. While playing to 70,000 screaming fans, the ‘Material Girl’ was hoisted up on a mirrored cross, adorned in a crown of thorns and sang, ‘Live To Tell’. According to CNN, religious leaders have condemned this part of the show and see it as an attack on the Roman Catholic Church. In response to such allegations, the singer’s representatives have stressed that the performance on the cross is not disrespectful towards the church.

Aside from the Catholic symbolism and the disdain from the Vatican, Islam was also included in the show. Part of the concert featured a stand-off between Islam and Christianity, which was performed during the song, ‘Forbidden Love’. earthtimes reports that this particular portion of the set had Madonna singing and dancing between two men, one with the Star of David painted on his chest and the other a crescent moon, which symbolizes Islam. It was also reported that Mario Scialoja, who heads the Muslim League in Italy, wasn’t too pleased and took the same stance as the Catholic church. ”I think her idea is in the worst taste and she'd do better to go home.”

Madonna's 'Confessions' tour, in support of her Confessions On a Dance Floor album, kicked off in Los Angeles on May 21st, after she played the Coachella Festival in Indio, California. Madonna's European leg includes dates in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Hanover, Dusseldorf, and Horsens, Denmark. Madonna, 47, has had huge success throughout the 80s, 90s and 2000s, with huge hits, including #1's like "Like A Virgin", "Papa Don't Preach", "Open Your Heart", " Like A Prayer", "Vogue", "Justify My Love" and "Music". Her successful albums include, Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, The Immaculate Collection, Evita, Ray of Light, Music, and American Life. Her new album, Confessions of a Dance Floor has been #1 in 40 countries, and the first single "Hung Up" has been #1 in 41 countries, with both of those statistics being records. The Guinness Book of World Records also lists Madonna as the Most Successful Female Solo Artist, having sold 120 million albums as of November 2000.

[Additional Sources: CNN, earthtimes]