Madonna: I dedicate this song to the pope

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 kilometres (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 criticised by Vatican officials and leaders of other religions for staging a mock crucifixion during her last Rome concert in 2006.

Source:Tonight