Michael Jackson turns holier than thou over request to put papal prayers to music

CONTROVERSIAL pop star Michael Jackson has been asked by a Catholic record company to put the prayers of late pontiff John Paul II to music, according to reports circulating yesterday.

The 24 prayers and chants were written by the late Pope and the plan is to record a CD of them featuring various international pop stars, including Jackson.

A spokesman for the religious record label behind the project, Edizioni Musicali Terzo Millenio, which is associated with the Vatican, said they had the rights to the papal prayers and Michael Jackson was very interested in the project.