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Music legend Billy Joel recently shared a touching anecdote about Pope Francis following the pontiff’s passing. In a 2015 act of courtesy, Joel rescheduled a Madison Square Garden performance to accommodate the Pope’s mass at the venue.
Years later, in 2023, the kindness was returned in full when Joel and his family visited Vatican City. They were warmly welcomed and given an exclusive backstage tour, an experience Joel described as “unforgettable.”
In his Instagram tribute, Joel praised Pope Francis’s humility and love, referring to him as a “Pope of the people.” The post included photos of Joel, his wife Alexis, and their daughters Della and Remy enjoying their time at the Vatican.