Michael Jackson on stage An Italian priest who runs a music label specializing in religious songs said on Monday that Michael Jackson could be one of several artists to sing on a CD of Pope John Paul II's prayers, but cautioned that the project is "only a small idea" that has yet to be run by the Vatican for approval. The label has in past years produced CDs of famous actors reciting poems composed by the late pontiff. Now, the Rev. Giuseppe Moscati said he is considering producing a CD in which singers perform songs with lyrics drawn from 24 prayers penned by John Paul. "It is only a hope, an idea," Moscati said in a telephone interview. He stressed that the recording label would have to buy the rights from the Vatican. "We still have to propose this to the Vatican," Moscati said. He added that any production would have to show "respect for the greatness of John Paul." The priest said music industry contacts of his had inquired about Jackson's participation, but said, "we haven't met him or heard from him." Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said that "about a year ago, (Jackson) was contacted by the Vatican to work on some music. Because he was in trial at the time, he was not able to focus on it." The pop star was acquitted in June of child molestation charges in California after a five-month trial. Bain added: "I am not aware there has been any recent inquiry." However, she later reversed herself in a statement in which she said that Jackson had not had any discussions about the project with the Vatican or with the label. "Michael Jackson is unaware of this project, and news reports stating otherwise are completely erroneous," she said. Moscati said he thought the "image" created by the Jackson trial could be lessened by including other singers in the project. He declined to name other artists who might contribute.    (Agencies)

本周一，一位意大利牧师说，迈克尔·杰克逊有望和其他几位艺术家一起合制一张唱片，演唱教皇约翰·保罗二世的诗文，该牧师经营的唱片公司专门录制宗教歌曲。但这位意大利牧师言语谨慎，声明这样计划"仅是未成形的想法"，还需征求梵蒂冈方面的同意。 在最近几年里，该唱片公司制作了若干张由知名演员吟诵的诗歌唱片，这些诗文均是已故教皇保罗二世的作品。朱塞佩·莫斯卡蒂牧师说，他目前考虑制作一张唱片，由歌手来吟唱保罗所执笔的24篇诗文。 "这只是一种愿望，或者说是一种想法，"莫斯卡蒂在电话采访中说道。他强调，唱片公司最后必须从梵蒂冈手中购得版权。 莫斯卡蒂说："我们首先必须把这项计划提交给梵蒂冈。"他又补充到，所有作品必须表达"对伟大教皇约翰·保罗的敬意之情"。 据这位牧师透漏，他在音乐界的熟人已经询问杰克逊是否愿意加盟，但莫斯卡蒂说："我们并未见到杰克逊本人，也没有得到他的回音。" 杰克逊的女发言人雷蒙·K·巴恩说："一年前，梵蒂冈曾经联系杰克逊制作音乐，但他当时正在受审，没有把精力放在这件事上。" 当时，这位流行歌王被指控"猥亵儿童"，在加州经历了长达5个月的审讯，并于六月份被宣布无罪释放。 巴恩表示："我并不知悉最近有谁邀请杰克逊"。 然而，后来她又改变了早先的说法，她说杰克逊没有就此方案与梵蒂冈或该唱片公司进行商谈。 她说："迈克尔·杰克逊不知道这项计划，或者是新闻报道纯属子虚乌有。" 莫斯卡蒂说，他认为该计划吸纳其他歌手加盟，有助于淡化杰克逊"受审事件"对唱片造成的不良影响。但他拒绝透露这些歌手的姓名。 (中国日报网站编译)