By Bob Berry

The Queen of Soul, our own Aretha Franklin, will sing for Pope Francis at his Festival of Families in Philadelphia on September 26th.

The Festival, a “celebration of community, family and faith” will feature Andrea Bocelli, rock group The Fray and The Philadelphia Symphony and will be a highlight of the Pope’s itinerary.

Aretha began singing gospel music in her father’s church, the Reverend C.L.Franklin’s New Bethel Baptist Church, on C.L.Franklin Boulevard (Linwood Street) in Detroit-and having sung for you and I, Presidents and paupers; she surely will raise joyous noise for His Holiness.