Televised concert to raise funds for Peruvian shantytown

American singer-songwriter Patti Smith will be among the performers at the Concerto di Natale, the Vatican's annual Christmas concert at the Auditorium Conciliazione on 13 December.

The 22nd edition of the event features an eclectic line-up including French DJ Bob Sinclair, English house musician Steve Edwards and the Italian singing nun Suor Cristina who won this year's Voice of Italy competition.

The concert will be broadcast on Italian television on Christmas Eve coinciding with a fund-raising appeal for Fondazione Don Bosco nel Mondo.

This year the charity foundation will provide funds for educational and environmental projects in the Peruvian shantytown of Puerto Nuevo in Lima.

Known as the “Godmother of Punk”, Smith is known to be a fan of Pope Francis and met the newly-elected pontiff in April 2013 during the month-long interdisciplinary Patti Smith: My Festival at the Auditorium Parco dell a Musica.

For concert tickets see Auditorium Conciliazione website.