Madonna performs crucifixion despite Vatican outcry.

The publicity leading up to Madonna’s sold out concert at Olympic Stadium in Rome centered on her plans to perform while crucified. Many religious leaders criticized the material girl calling the act offensive and an attack aimed towards the Roman Catholic Church. For the singer who has never shied away from controversy the show went on as planned.

Rising from the stage on a mirrored cross and wearing a crown of thorns Madonna sang her hit song ‘Live to Tell’ while the 70,000 concert goers cheered, many of whom snapped photos of the anticipated event. 

Madonna remained defiant throughout the two hour performance that included a point when she showed photographs of the pope after those of Benito Mussolini, the former Italian dictator who aligned himself with Hitler in World War II.

The religious overtones continued as Madonna sang ‘Forbidden Love’ while she was between two dancers. With the Star of David painted on one man’s chest and the crescent moon, a symbol of Islam, painted on the other’s Madonna was clearly making a statement about the current crisis in the Middle East. The two men eventually embraced and held hands to symbolize the need for peace between the two religions.

Madonna will be taking her tour to Moscow in September and the singer has already been targeted by the Russian Orthodox Church. They have advised their followers to abstain from the show as a result of her crucifixion act.