Patti Smith: Vatican Christmas Concert to Include Punk Rocker

Rock star Patti Smith will perform at the Vatican’s Christmas concert this year.

Smith is one of 18 acts set to perform during the Vatican's annual celebration on Dec. 13 at the Conciliation Auditorium in Rome.

Smith drew criticism for accepting the invitation to perform at the Vatican, with some pointing to a line from a song in 1975: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins/but not mine.”

Smith addressed the criticism during a talk at the Museum of The Moving Image in New York on Tuesday.

“I like Pope Francis and I’m happy to sing for him,” Smith said, according to The Guardian. “Anyone who would confine me to a line from 20 years ago is a fool! I had a strong religious upbringing, and the first word on my first LP is Jesus. I did a lot of thinking. I’m not against Jesus, but I was 20 and I wanted to make my own mistakes and I didn’t want anyone dying for me. I stand behind that 20-year-old girl, but I have evolved. I’ll sing to my enemy! I don’t like being pinned down.”

Twitter users shared their reactions.

Patti Smith for president of the world http://t.co/G4Bkec6iJw via @alexneedham74

— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) November 18, 2014

Headline I never thought I’d read: "Patti Smith To Perform at Vatican Christmas Concert" http://t.co/KAJbfyS9Uy via @IBTimesUK #PopeFrancis}

— Kristin Thomson (@kristinthomson) November 14, 2014

The Pope is dope- Pope Francis selects Patti Smith to perform at the Vatican Christmas Concert http://t.co/7GdtMhCNF8

— Courtney (@courtneybody) November 15, 2014

This could get me going to church again. http://t.co/oVY7RvneGS

— Jim Long (@newmediajim) November 15, 2014

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