Italian Singer Spoke to the Pope about Music Video

BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, August 6—Amedeo Minghi, the Italian pop singer whose singing is featured on the new biographical video about Pope John Paul II that the Vatican has OK'd for Fall release, spoke to the BBC about the Holy Father.

Minghi said he spoke to the Pope about the video, which the report called a “reverent” music video. “He told me it was very good,” the singer is quoted saying.

Minghi praised the subject of his song, A Man Who Came from Afar. “The song and its artistic expression interprets the Pope and his pontificate well because he has written songs and poetry and musical comedies. So he is a man, despite his great spirituality,” he is quoted saying.

He met the Pope at a performance he gave at the Vatican. “When we met, I felt his inner strength, but he's also a great man as well as a great Pope,” he is quoted saying.

“He told me [the song] was very good, but he hadn't understood the words well because there was only a small speaker. So I promised his Holiness that as soon as I made the record I would bring him the lyrics so he could hear it and also read the words.”

St. Louis Counts on Big Turnout for Pope

ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, Aug. 3—The news: Americans anxiously await the Pope's brief January visit to St. Louis, and big crowds are expected. The source: the businesses of downtown St. Louis, who are betting their budgets on its accuracy.

Reported the St. Louis Business Journal: “The papal visit has touched off a flurry of hotel reservations during a traditionally slow period for hotels. Most are charging their highest rates, and at least one major downtown inn, the Regal Riverfront Hotel, has increased prices [19%.] Hotels near papal activities expect to be fully booked.”

“Retailers … are placing orders for and stocking shelves with religious items in anticipation of the visit, which is projected to generate $8 million to $15 million in direct spending.

“Catholic shops, particularly The Daughters of St. Paul bookstore, expect brisk business. They will stock shelves with Pope-related items.

“T-shirt and memorabilia manufacturers, who supply products for events from rock concerts to sporting events to general celebrity items, eagerly await the Pope, who is one of their best sellers.

“The archdiocese is developing a Web site to keep interested pilgrims nationwide up-to-date on planned events.”