Pope to lead galaxy of stars in Bible-reading marathon

Thursday, October 2, 2008
PADDY AGNEW in Rome

Pope Benedict will this Sunday lead off a non-stop, six-day, seven-night televised reading of the entire Old and New Testaments in a Bible marathon that will bring the pontiff together with stars from the worlds of football, cinema and opera as well as more than 1,000 Italians from all walks of life.

The brainchild of Giuseppe De Carli, senior Vatican correspondent for Italian state broadcaster RAI, it has been timed to coincide with the opening this weekend of a Vatican synod (mini-parliament) entitled The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.

Brazil and AC Milan midfielder Kaka and Italy and Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie will be taking part, as will the Oscar-winning actor and director Roberto Benigni, who starred in the 1999 hit film Life Is Beautiful about the Holocaust. the rest image