Madonna dedicates ‘Like a Virgin’ to pope

updated 5:43 p.m. ET Sept. 7, 2008

ROME - Italian news reports say pop star Madonna dedicated "Like a Virgin" to Pope Benedict XVI when she sang the classic hit during a Rome concert.

Madonna made the dedication just a few miles from the Vatican as she sang for tens of thousands of fans at the capital's Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night, the only Italian date of her international "Sticky and Sweet" tour.

Italian daily La Repubblica reported on Sunday that Madonna said "I dedicate this song to the pope, because we are all children of God."

The "Material Girl" has a history of arousing the ire of the Roman Catholic Church. She was criticized by Vatican officials and leaders of other religions for staging a mock crucifixion during her last Rome concert in 2006.

MORE FROM MUSIC

Music Section Front

Springsteen is ‘exactly where I want to be’ Susan Boyle’s debut album tops Britain’s charts Musician-folklorist Bess Hawes dies at 88 Minn. college students get schooled on hip-hop Sting offers ‘slightly different’ seasonal album Shakira says new CD looks out for single ladies 50 Cent: ‘Pain is more monumental than joy’ ‘Shock is fun,’ Lambert says of performance MJ, Def Jam, AC/DC box sets out for holidays Susan Boyle to her bullies: ‘I’m all grown up’ Music Section Front   Add Music headlines to your news reader: