Madonna sends a strange message to Pope Francis insisting she is a ‘good Catholic’

She wrote: “Hello @Pontifex Francis – I’m a good Catholic, I swear! I mean I don’t swear! It’s been a few decades since my last confession.

“Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? I’ve been excommunicated three times. It doesn’t seem fair! Sincerely, Madonna.”

The pop star has previously drawn the ire of the Catholic Church in the wake of a 2006 performance in Rome in which she was “crucified” on stage as part of the performance.

Speaking at the time, Cardinal Ersilio Tonino spoke with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, saying that Madonna had taken things “too far” with the spectacle, labelling it “blasphemous”.

The cardinal said: “To crucify herself during the concert in the city of Popes and martyrs is an act of open hostility. It is nothing short of a scandal and an attempt to generate publicity.

“The time will come when this woman will realise that Christ died on the cross for her as well, that he spilt his blood for her. I feel pity for her.

“I just want to tell her that she must really have reached rock bottom if she feels that to attract the attention of the media she has to enact Christ’s suffering and death on the cross.”

Bishop Velasio De Paolis also weighed in on the singer, saying: “”How this woman can take the name of the mother of Christ I don’t know. Her show represents the rotten fruit of secularism and the absurdity of evil.

“What adds to the offence is that she is doing this in the city which is the cradle of the Roman Catholic faith.”