Pope Francis, seated on his high chair on stage, looked solemn and moved to emotions as classical singer Andrea Bocelli gave a powerful rendition of "The Lord's Prayer." The Pope was joined by thousands of people, who gathered yesterday to celebrate the message of family and love.
According to Wall Street Journal, this Vatican-sponsored concert was dubbed as "Festival of Families," held at an open amphitheatre in Philiadelphia. Aside from Bocelli, other celebrities also came to profess their support for the pontiff and his message. Music legend Aretha Franklin sang "Amazing Grace."
Actor Mark Wahlberg hosted the event, and shared his testimony on how faith changed him from being a drug addict to a better person. He told the crowd, "I attribute all of my success to my Catholic faith. My faith has given me the ability to be a good father, a good husband and most importantly a good person."
Prior to this, on Friday, Sept. 25, Jennifer Hudson, Gloria Estefan, and Harry Connick Jr. performed at the Madison Square Garden in New York, in a concert entitled "A Journey in Faith." As Billboard reported, the event was a celebration prior to Pope Francis' actual mass in the same venue.
Hudson sang a powerful and solemn rendition of "Hallelujah," Estefan sang "Mas Alla," and Connick sang "How Great Thou Art." The 20,000-seater arena was filled with dignitaries, religious leaders, and everyday Catholics who were waiting to be blessed by the Holy Father.
Other celebrities, even non-Catholics, have also shown their support for the leader hailed as "The People's Pope." E! Online reported that Oprah Winfrey sent a video message to the Pope before he landed on the United States. The host reportedly shared, "Your holiness, I wanted to take a moment to extend my warmest welcome to you. I hold your life and work in the highest esteem."
Another celebrity who, quite surprisingly, also had a message for the Pope is Madonna. According to USA Today, in her ongoing Rebel Heart concert tour last Thursday, the pop icon toasted to the religious icon. She reportedly shouted to a sold-out crowd, "Rules are for fools. That's why I like the new pope. He seems very open-minded."
Madonna, as a child, was raised Roman Catholic. She has long shed her conservative beliefs and has been known to feature12q21 anti-religious symbolisms in her highly provocative videos. The Rebel Heart tour even shows female performers, wearing skimpy versions of a nun's attire, pole dancing on crosses.
The singer then performed "La Vie en Rose," dedicating it to "Popey-wopey." "I've been ex-communicated from the Catholic Church three times. I'm very proud of that. Since popey-wopey is on his way over here, I want to dedicate this song to him," Madonna said before singing.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis is scheduled to depart for Rome later today. Speaking at the concert in Philadelphia, he emphasized his message of love. He said, "In the family, there are difficulties, but those difficulties are overcome with love. Love is about celebration, love is joy, love is moving forward."
