Hill speaks her mind

National Catholic Reporter, Dec 26, 2003

U.S. pop singer Lauryn Hill stunned church officials at a Vatican Christmas concert when she told them to "repent" and spoke of the pain of those abused by priests. Hill's unexpected lecture came during the Dec. 13 taping of the annual concert in the Vatican's audience hall, attended about 6,000 people including cardinals and bishops but not Pope John Paul II.

Before performing two songs, Hill said she wanted to read a message. "I know that some of you may be offended by what I'm saying. But what do you have to say to those families that were betrayed by people they believe in? And what do you say to the children who were violated in mind and body?" she said. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the papal vicar of Rome, rose and left the hall. Bishop Salvatore Fisichella, an auxiliary bishop of Rome, said, "It was an example of great rudeness."