Michael and Pope John Paul's words

[juliet]

I've been reading some old news and I just want to share this from Catholic News Agency regarding Michael's interest in putting Pope John Paul II 's words into his music.

Michael Jackson interested in putting John Paul II's prayers to music

Rome, Italy, Feb 7, 2006 (CNA) - It seems that the musical artist who gave the world "Bad", may be interested in producing something profoundly good.

According to Father Giuseppe Moscati of the Edizioni Musicali Terzo Millennio, a group specializing in church music and one which has organized large musical events for the Holy See, associates close to pop star Michael Jackson say the down-on-his-luck superstar is interested in putting the words of the late Pope John Paul II to music.

The star, of "Thriller" fame, was recently cleared of numerous child molestation charges by a California court and is currently living in Bahrain.

"We have been contacted", Moscati told the Reuters news agency, "by people close to Michael Jackson who have expressed interest and we are thinking about it."

"As a celebrity", he pointed out, "[Jackson] is perhaps a bit remote from the teachings contained in the Pope's prayers. But if he can help us put together a group of singers that fulfill the criteria of the project then we'll study the proposal."

Fr. Moscati's company, whose name translates as, the Millenium Music Society, owns the rights to 24 of John Paul II's prayers and has reportedly been interested in putting them to music for some time.

Representatives from the Vatican said that the Holy See is not directly involved in the initiative.

But later on there was a follow up news on Michael's reaction on contactmusic.com

LATEST: Pop superstar MICHAEL JACKSON has laughed off reports he has been approached by the Vatican to sing a selection of late pontiff POPE JOHN PAUL II's prayers.

The THRILLER hitmaker, currently living in Bahrain, was reportedly approached by the Millennium Music Society's REVERAND GIUSEPPE MOSCATI to set the 24 prayers and chants to music.

Jackson's spokeswoman RAYMONE BAIN has denied the claims, saying, "(Michael) is unaware of this project.

"Contrary to published reports in Italy, and the United States, Michael Jackson has not participated in any discussions with the Vatican or Edizioni Musicali Terzo Millennio, an Italian music label specializing in religious songs, to record music to Pope John Paul II's prayers."

However, Bain admits Jackson was approached by the Catholic Church in 2005 during his high-profile child molestation court battle.

She adds, "Because he was in trial at the time, he was not able to focus on

[tinker_bell]

Speaking of Vatican, they actually posted a tribute on June 26 in the official paper L'Osservatore Romano starting like:

But will he really be dead? It wouldn't be surprising if, in a few years, he was spotted in a gas station in Memphis, perhaps with his former father-in-law Elvis Presley, another of those myths – like Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix or John Lennon – that never die in the imagination of their fans. And Michael Jackson, who died yesterday at the age of fifty, is definitely a pop music legend

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/200 ... -his-fans/

kinda strange for the official Catholic paper anyway...