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.
“Since Popey-wopey is on his way over here, I want to dedicate this song to him,'' the 57-year-old reportedly said before singing "La Vie en Rose."
She also suggested that the pope must be "stalking her," as she was recently in New York for a performance. Pope Francis will be in New York until Saturday morning before making his way to Philadelphia.
"Either he's a copycat or he's secretly in love with me," she joked.
It was just one of many comments about Francis at a concert that featured lots of religious imagery, including female performers wearing nuns' habits – and little else – pole dancing on crosses.
Madonna praised the pontiff for being "open-minded." The singer has a controversial history with the Vatican.
"I've been excommunicated from the Catholic Church three times," she joked. "It shows the Vatican really cares."
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