Two of Italy's soccer greats are to star alongside Pope Benedict XVI when he becomes the first pontiff in history to read a chapter of the Bible on television.
Brazil and AC Milan star Kaka and Italy and Juventus centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie are among the famous names signed up to join in a continuous reading of the Holy Scriptures for Italian state broadcaster RAI, which the pope will kick off on October 5 with the first chapter of Genesis.
Kaka's participation in the seven-day marathon will not surprise football fans, who have known him to celebrate wins by pulling up his jersey to reveal a T-shirt declaring ''I Belong To Jesus''.
The 2007 European footballer of the year, who claims the Bible is his favourite book, is also a member of the Athletes of Christ organisation and says he is proud to have been a virgin when he married.
Among other leading lights to take the pulpit in the basilica of Rome's Santa Croce in Gerusalemme Church for the reading is Oscar-winning actor-director and papal favourite Roberto Benigni.
The 1999 Life Is Beautiful actor, who is said to have wowed Benedict with a recital of Dante's Divine Comedy, will close the first hour of the reading with a passage from Genesis.
Orthodox bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, the representative of the Russian Church in Europe, and Valdensian Protestant Church representative Maria Bonafede will also give readings.
Opera-pop crooner Andrea Bocelli has volunteered his services for the 'musical reflection' that will take place every hour and a half between the readings, which will each last between four and eight minutes.
A total of 1,500 people from across the social divides will take part in the project - from cardinals, rabbis, politicians and academics to policemen, sportsmen, students, soldiers and factory workers.
After the first hour the reading will move from RAI's first channel, RAI Uno, to the broadcaster's education satellite channel, RAI Edu.
The reading will close on October 10 with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, reading the 22nd chapter of the Book of Revelation on RAI Uno.
