Pope Leo XIV welcomed American singer and author Patti Smith to the Vatican on Friday, as confirmed by the Holy See’s press office.
The meeting at the Apostolic Palace united two individuals from Chicago: the leader of the Catholic Church and the “godmother of punk music,” both hailing from the Windy City in Illinois. According to DPA and Agerpres, this encounter highlights their shared origins.
Patti Smith, who recorded her first single, “Hey Joe/Piss Factory,” with the Patti Smith Group in 1974, gained international fame in 1975 with her album “Horses,” which merged punk-rock with spoken poetry. At 79, Smith is not only a musician but also a poet, photographer, and visual artist.
Recently, she has fostered a unique bond with the Vatican through her artistic initiatives. In May, to commemorate one year since Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope, she inaugurated the Vatican pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Alongside the Soundwalk Collective, she presented a sound performance designed as a musical prayer.
