Vatican condemns ‘profane’ fake baptism at music festival

Achille Lauro performs what was called a “profane” faux baptism as he sings “Domenica” at the San Remo music festival in Sanremo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. An Italian bishop on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, strongly protested the performance, denouncing both the singer and RAI state television for showing a “profane” faux baptism on stage. (Matteo Rasero/LaPresse via AP)

The Vatican and an Italian Catholic bishop have protested over a performance at Italy’s Sanremo music festival that featured a “profane” faux baptism on stage that was broadcast on public television.

On the opening night of the annual song contest, a tattooed, bare-chested and barefoot singer named Achille Lauro gyrated and grabbed his crotch as he sang Domenica, backed by singers from the Harlem Gospel Choir.