Pope Plans Christmas Album

Pope Benedict XVI has joined Guns n' Roses and Snoop Dogg on Geffen 
records' roster of artists and plans to have an album out in time for Christmas, the Guardian reports. The pontiff won't be crooning holiday standards, however. The album will feature Benedict singing a prayer and reciting litanies in several languages, accompanied by some contemporary classical music.

Benedict will become the first singing pope to be recorded on CD, but Geffen execs deny it's a gimmick. "I think the beauty of the album will surprise a lot of people," said a Geffen manager. "They will be surprised by the quality of the music and also the breadth." The proceeds from Alma Mater will go to fund music education for underprivileged children around the world.
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