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From Pop to Pope: Michelle McManus to sing for Pope Benedict XVI

18/08/2010 5:00 pm

A graphic for the reality show Pop Idol

The Catholic Church in Scotland has confirmed that pop star Michelle McManus will perform before the Papal Mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on 16 September.

The performance will be a family affair with Michelle singing ‘Home’, a song composed by her 22-year-old cousin, Michael Brady, who is studying music in Glasgow and lives on Skye. As well as performing with her cousin, Michelle will also sing the popular "From A Distance".

A crowd of up to 100,000 will be in the park itself and an estimated one billion people around the world will experience the celebration through global TV coverage. Michelle shot to fame in 2003 as winner of ITV's Pop Idol. She is now a popular television presenter on STV's nightly magazine programme, 'The Hour'.

Over the years, she has also given much of her time caring for handicapped children on pilgrimage to Lourdes in France. Michelle said: "I am truly honoured to have been asked to perform at Bellahouston Park on the 16 September in celebration of the Pope’s visit to Scotland. What an amazing event to have staged here in our own country and, as a very proud Scot and someone of faith, I am delighted to be involved".

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church, Peter Kearney, said; "We're absolutely delighted that Michelle will perform at the Papal Mass at Bellahouston next month and the fact that the song she's singing is written by her cousin Michael will make it a very special moment in -what's shaping up to be a very special and historic day for Scotland".