Sister Cristina gives Pope Francis a copy of her music album

Last updated on: December 12, 2014 at 9:01 am by CNA Daily News

Sister Cristina gives Pope Francis a copy of her music album 2014-12-12T09:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2014 / 02:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Sister Cristina Scuccia, the Ursuline religious who won The Voice Italy earlier this year, greeted Pope Francis on Wednesday and gave him a copy of her new album, "Sister Cristina."

The encounter took place at the conclusion of the Holy Father's General Audience in St. Peter's Square on Dec. 10.

Interviewed by DPA in November, the 26 year-old nun had said she hoped to meet Francis and give him "the first copy" of her album.

"It is a dream for me to meet him to give him the first copy of my album and receive his blessing," Sister Cristina said.

The album went on sale Nov. 11 on the Universal record label.

Sister Cristina won the Italian edition of The Voice in June. Immediately after the results were announced, she asked the entire studio audience to join her in praying the Our Father.

With more than 66 million visits, Sister Cristina's audition video for the program in which she sang Alicia Keys' "No One," is among the most viewed YouTube videos of the year.

The Italian religious renewed her vows on July 29 of this year.

The first single from her album is a cover of Madonna's “Like a Virgin.”Catholic cultural commentator and Hollywood screenwriter Barbara Nicolosi suggested to CNA in an October interview that the nun's decision to cover the song, while well intentioned, shows “radical impropriety” which wrongly ignores the original song’s intent to undermine the Virgin Mary and Catholic morals.

Nicolosi added that the choice of Madonna’s risqué song “reflects the lack of thought, seriousness and decorum that is predictable of so much of our societal and ecclesial life today.”

She noted the original song’s music video and its use of Catholic imagery was “widely condemned” among Catholics. “It was clear that Madonna was ridiculing the Church’s reverence for the Blessed Virgin and so many lay people and clergy came out to speak against Madonna and the piece.”

“That's another reason why this is a weird piece for a Catholic nun to try and re-purpose,” Nicolosi stated.

Sister Cristina told L'Avvenire that while she knew she would be criticized, she does not intend to “provoke or scandalize anyone.”

"If you read the lyrics and avoid any influence from the original, you discover that it is song about the capacity to love, about making people new, about rescuing them from their past,” Sr. Cristina claimed. “And that's how I wanted to interpret it. For this reason we transformed it from a pop song into a romantic ballad (…) to something more like a lay prayer than a pop song.”

Sister Cristina said she “sometimes” regrets going on The Voice because of “the almost morbid curiosity of the media. Some photographers have chased me everywhere. I have even taken ‘mortal leaps’ to get to Mass without them seeing me.”

She explained that in response to the media coverage, “I closed myself in here in the community. I have kept silent and prayed a lot. I have concentrated because I had to renew my temporary vows. I have cared for the most important part of me: my spiritual life.”

In accord with her vow of poverty, Sister Cristina said, the funds from the sale of her record “will be used to finance the charitable projects of the congregation, for our home in Brazil but also for a project in my own land of Sicily, where there is no lack of poverty. I would also like to help other associations.”

Vatican

Previous Post

December 12, 2014

Cardinal advisors discuss Curia reform, protection of minors

Next Post

December 12, 2014 'Every five minutes, a Christian dies in the Middle East'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did the high priest wear on his chest as a symbol of the twelve tribes?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Cloak Breastplate Headband Ring