Pope Francis invites Patti Smith to perform at the Vatican's Christmas concert

14 November 2014, 17:36 | Written by Laurence Day

(News)

(Patti Smith)

Patti Smith will perform at the Vatican's annual Christmas celebrations on the official invitation of Pope Francis. They met last April at a general audience in St. Peter's square, appearing to share a few jokes.

Smith will perform at Vatican City's Auditorium Conciliazione 13 December. As NME note, the Vatican Christmas Concert will also feature "a performance from singing nun Sister Christina Scuccia, who recently won Italy's version of The Voice and covered Madonna."

Some of the Catholic Church's figures are, unsurprisingly, displeased at Pope Francis' selection of the punk legend, taking particular offense to Smith's 1975 song "Gloria", which features the opening line "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine." The group known as Portosalvo have described the choice as "blasphemous".

Smith is also preparing a range of 40th anniversary events for her seminal record Horses.

Listen to "Gloria" below.