But one more Madonna note:

Mario Scialoja, head of Italy’s Muslim League, concurs: "Her idea is in the worst taste, and she’d do better to go home." Riccardo Pacifici, vice president of the Roman Jewish community, agrees she should have snuffed the inflammatory routine.

Word is NBC urged her to cut the crucifixion from her concert to be broadcast in November. But it’s staying. "She felt like that was a cornerstone of the show," said NBC exec Kevin Reilly. "We viewed it and didn’t see it as being inappropriate."

Liz Rosenberg, mouthpiece for the ecumenical hate object, tells us: "I think the Pope would enjoy the show and would applaud her performance. He has an open invitation to see for himself the eloquence and beauty that Madonna expresses for humanity while performing her poignant song ‘Live to Tell.’"