Lauryn Hill so rarely takes the stage these days that anytime she performs it gets attention, but her appearance at the Vatican Saturday night made headlines for another reason.
According to Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper, Hill read a statement criticizing the church and launched into a tirade against abusive priests. “I realize some of you may be offended by what I’m saying, but what do you say to the families who were betrayed by the people in whom they believed?” she reportedly told the audience, which included several church officials but not the Pope.
A Vatican spokesperson could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for Hill at her record company, Columbia, did not have a comment and said the show was not booked through the label.