During a Christmas benefit concert at the Vatican, Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill launched into an unscheduled tirade against priests who have abused children, according to Italian newspaper reports.
Hill read a statement criticizing the church and its leaders during the Saturday night concert, where she was a featured performer.

Several Italian newspapers yesterday ran translations of the statement, which was delivered in English. They quoted the hip-hop singer as saying there was “no acceptable explanation for defending the church.”

“God has been a witness to the corruption of his leadership, of the exploitation and abuses … by the clergy,” she said.

This was an apparent reference to the scandal in the United States last year over the sexual abuse of children by priests.

“I realize some of you may be offended by what I’m saying, but what do you say to the families who were betrayed by the people in whom they believed?” La Repubblica newspaper quoted her as saying.

There was no immediate response yesterday to calls seeking comment from Hill’s label, New York-based Columbia Records.

Prelates in the audience included Camillo Cardinal Ruini, the Pope’s vicar for Rome and the head of the Italian bishops’ conference, and his deputy, Msgr. Rino Fisichella. The Pope did not attend.

The Vatican said yesterday it had no comment.

The concert was taped and is scheduled to be aired Christmas Eve. Organizers said Hill’s outburst and performance probably would be cut from the show.

Hill, a former member of the rap trio the Fugees, set a record for female artists in 1999 when she won five Grammy awards for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

Credit: NY Daily News