“It’s a combination of compassion, humility, sternness and refusal,” Perry said in a wide-ranging interview published Wednesday. “He is rebel ― a rebel for Jesus.”
Perry said she appreciated the pope’s love of animals, and that he took the name of her favorite saint, Francis of Assisi. She also said she admires that he sticks to his vow of poverty, even at the Vatican.
Pope Francis waves to the crowd during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican on July 15. (Photo: ANDREAS SOLARO via Getty Images)
The pope is indeed known for his simple lifestyle. He has opted to live at a Vatican City guesthouse instead of the much grander papal apartments at the Apostolic Palace, and he’s known for popping out to local shops in Rome to buy his own shoes and eyeglasses.
“He is bringing the Church back to humility and connecting with people,” Perry said. “He’s very humble and not frivolous.”
Perry briefly met Francis at the Vatican while she was in town for a health conference in April. She was chosen to speak at the international meeting about the benefits of Transcendental Meditation, a technique she credits with helping her gain control over her anxiety and stress.
Katy Perry looks toward an unseen Pope Francis as he welcomes participants to a health conference at the Vatican on April 28. (Photo: ANDREAS SOLARO via Getty Images)
Perry’s parents are evangelical Christian pastors, but her mother was raised as a Roman Catholic. The singer told Vogue that she went to Mass with her mom while on her recent tour ― an experience that left a deep impact on her.
“She hadn’t sung those songs in 40 years and watching her made me cry,” Perry said. “It’s so beautiful and humbling to re-center in a place where it’s not about anything else but reconnecting with the divine.”
Perry told Marie Claire in 2013 that she has connected with her spiritual side through meditation and the writings of Eckhart Tolle. She said she doesn’t believe in a heaven, hell “or an old man sitting on a throne,” but that she does believe in a higher power and feels a deep connection with God. She said she prays for self-control and humility, as well as to give thanks.
Katy Perry attends the 2018 Met Gala in New York City. This year's theme was "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination." (Photo: Steven Ferdman via Getty Images)
Perry told Vogue Australia she felt a sense of “brokenness” and “situational depression” when she received negativereviews for her 2017 album “Witness.” To help her find her balance after the setback, she said she attended a week-long personal growth retreat at California’s Hoffman Institute in January.
“That brokenness, plus me opening up to a greater, higher power and reconnecting with divinity, gave me a wholeness I never had,” she said. “It gave me a new foundation. It’s not just a material foundation: it’s a soul foundation.”
Perry said her mom has prayed for her throughout her life, hoping that the star would “come back to God.”
“I never left him,” Perry said. “I was just a little bit secular, I was more materialistic and more career-driven. But now that I’m in my 30s, it’s more about spirituality and heart wholeness.”
Posing during a portrait session on Sept. 25, 2002, in West Hollywood, California.
2004
At Clive Davis' Celebration of the American Music Awards in Beverly Hills, California, in November 2004.
2005
At Esquire's fourth annual Oscar viewing party hosted by Jennifer Love Hewitt in February 2005
2006
At the Sony BMG Grammy party at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Feb. 8, 2006, in Hollywood, California
2006
At Vanity Fair's 2006 Svedka Erotica Reading Series on April 20, 2006, in Hollywood, California
2006
At Lucky Magazine's April 2006 Hosts party at Milk Boutique to celebrate its Los Angeles shopping guide
2006
Attending the launch of Nintendo's Wii in November 2006
2007
At the 2007 EMI Post Grammy Party at Boulevard 3 in Los Angeles
2007
At Rock & Republic's Fashion Rocks pre-party and after-party at Eyebeam Atelier and Hiro NYC on Sept. 5, 2007
2008
At Betsey Johnson's fall 2008 show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 4, 2008, in New York City
2008
At Z100's Zootopia 2008 presented by Izod Fragrance on May 17, 2008, in New Jersey
2008
At Spike TV's second annual Guys Choice Awards held at Sony Studios on May 30, 2008, in Culver City, California
2008
At the release of her album "One of the Boys" on June 7, 2008, in Southampton, New York
2008
At the Kira Plastinina U.S. Launch Party on June 14, 2008, in Los Angeles
2008
At the release party for "One of the Boys" at Capitol Records on June 17, 2008, in Los Angeles
2008
At Rok Las Vegas to perform inside the New York-New York casino on Aug. 30, 2008
2008
At the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with Miley Cyrus on Sept. 7, 2008
2008
Wearing a Jean Charles de Castelbajac dress at the MTV Europe Music Awards, held at the Echo Arena on Nov. 6, 2008, in Liverpool, England
2009
On the red carpet at VH1's 14th annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Jan. 8, 2009, in Santa Monica, California
2009
Wearing a Tommy Hilfiger gown at the 2009 Met Gala in New York City on May 4, 2009
2009
At the official opening ceremony of Life Ball 2009 on May 16, 2009, in Vienna, Austria
2009
Wearing a silver corset dress by The Blonds at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sept. 13, 2009
2010
Wearing Zac Posen at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards held at the Nokia Theater on Jan. 31, 2010, in Los Angeles
2010
With her then-fiancé, comedian Russell Brand, arriving at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Sunset Tower on March 7, 2010, in West Hollywood, California
2010
Wearing a CuteCircuit LED gown at the Met Gala to celebrate the opening of the "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010, in New York City
2010
Wearing a sparkly Zuhair Murad dress at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre on June 6, 2010, in Universal City, California
2010
In a Marchesa dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sept. 12, 2010, in Los Angeles
2011
With then-husband Russell Brand at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on Feb. 13, 2011, in Los Angeles. Perry was wearing an angelic gown by Giorgio Armani.
2011
At the premiere of "The Smurfs" at The Ziegfeld Theater on July 24, 2011, in New York City
2011
In Atelier Versace at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Aug. 28, 2011, in Los Angeles
2012
Wearing Elie Saab Couture at the 54th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles.
2012
At the 20th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party on Feb. 26, 2012 in West Hollywood, California. Perry wore a gown by Blumarine.
2012
Wearing a Twenty Cluny dress at the NARM Music Biz 2012 awards dinner party at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 10, 2012 in Century City, California.
2012
Wearing a velvet Dolce & Gabbana dress at the premiere of "Katy Perry: Part Of Me" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on June 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California.
2013
Wearing a Valentino dress backstage during the 2013 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Jan. 9, 2013 in Los Angeles.
Former New York Yankees left-hander Fritz Peterson died at the age of 82. He is probably best known exchanging wives with teammate Mike Kekich in the 1970s.
