As a general rule, Christians tend to bemoan the way celebrities live. The famous are known for often living indulgent, hedonistic lives. For celebrities who come from Christian families, it can be painful for parents, siblings or children to watch as their family member is sucked into a lifestyle that runs contrary to Christianity. Many young celebrities fall into the trap of idolizing their own fame. It does not help that most established celebrities are extremely hostile to Christianity. Being surrounded by temptation and people who push for up-and-coming celebrities to embrace an un-Christian lifestyle can make it easy for Christian celebrities to lose track of their faith. Sometimes, however, the famous manage to find their way back to Christ. That is exactly what singer Katy Perry is claiming happened to her after meeting with the Pope.

According to Katy Perry, her mother has been hoping that Perry would rediscover God since the young star exploded onto the music scene with her 2008 hit “I Kissed a Girl.” “My mom has prayed for me my entire life, hoping I’d come back to God,” Perry said. “I never left Him, I was just a little bit secular, I was more materialistic and more career-driven.”

That has since changed, Perry said, and she is now focused on “spirituality and heart wellness.” Plenty of celebrities have said similar things, but Perry has not chosen a role model who practices the sort of empty, feel-good pseudo-spirituality that is so popular among the elite. Instead, Perry was touched by a devout Christian, Pope Francis.

After meeting the Pope in April, Perry was changed. She is now a “big fan” of the Pope and his work. “It’s a combination of compassion, humility, sternness and refusal,” Perry said. “He is a rebel, a rebel for Jesus. He is bringing the Church back to humility and connecting with people. He’s very humble and not frivolous.”

Perry’s sudden interest in Catholicism is seen by many as an ironic twist given that Perry has spent the last three years in court battling a pair of elderly nuns for control of their convent. Perry wanted to buy the eight acre property for $14.5 million, but the nuns wanted it to go to entrepreneur Dana Hollister. Perry eventually won the case after one of the nuns died after collapsing in court.

Bizarre though Perry’s timing may be, one can only hope that her interest in leaving behind the trappings of a stereotypical celebrity’s life is sincere. It will likely do her good in the long run, both in this life and in the next.