Madonna praises “open-minded” new Pope at Philadelphia show

“He seems very open-minded, right?” she asked the crowd.

While performing at her “Rebel Heart” concert in Philadelphia Thursday night, Madonna gave a special shoutout to Pope Francis ahead of his visit, according to an Associated Press report on NBC10.

CONTROVERSIAL pop queen Madonna has had her fair share of run-ins with the Vatican but it seems she’s a fan of Pope Francis. “Either he’s a copycat, or he’s in love with me”.

While we’re guessing this was the Pope’s first shout-out from Madonna, we also suspect that this was his first tribute from a woman wearing a leotard and fishnet stockings while accompanied onstage by backup “sexy nun” dancers who pole dance on crosses. “It shows the Vatican cares – deeply”. Thats why I like the new pope.

She also created the Pope a nickname, Popey Wopey after which specialist the chant “La Bie En Rose” in the Pontiff. It’s not totally clear whether that admiration goes both ways: As she admitted, she’s ticked off the Catholic Church on at least three separate occasions, leading a number of high-ranking Catholics to call for her ex-communication.

Madonna, raised Roman Catholic in Michigan, has a long history of falling foul of the Vatican. Her 1989 video for “Like A Prayer” contained imagery that outraged religious leaders, including stigmata and burning crosses.

The pope heads from New York to Philadelphia on Saturday for the last stop in his historic visit to the United States. Her seminal 1990 “Blond Ambition” tour included simulated masturbation and brought condemnation from the Vatican.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the Vatican has completely banished the singer. The Italian Bishops Conference criticized the songs appearance on the CD, saying it was a commercial ploy.