Vatican Christmas concert weathers small storm of controversy

Published: 2005-12-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican's annual Christmas concert weathered a small storm of controversy this year when Canadian-American singer Paul Anka pulled out, a Brazilian songstress was banned from performing, and the pope broke with tradition by not meeting with performers the day of the concert. The 2005 "Christmas Concert in the Vatican," recorded Dec. 3 before a live audience in the Vatican's Paul VI hall, still boasted such stars as South African singer Miriam Makeba and Dolores O'Riordan, former lead singer of the Cranberries. The Virginia State Gospel Choir also performed with "Oh Happy Day" and "Celebrate." But the day before the concert, the concert's conductor, Renato Serio, announced Paul Anka had canceled his participation because he "took on other commitments." Many singers also felt let down when they learned they would not be meeting Pope Benedict XVI the day of the concert, as was the tradition every year with Pope John Paul II. All this on the heels of the Vatican dropping Brazilian pop singer Daniela Mercury because church officials feared she would use the concert as a venue to promote the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

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