Rapping nun plans to welcome Pope Francis with a song during Colombia visit

A rapping nun will perform a song for Pope Francis when he visits Colombia this week, Agence France-Presse reported.

Sister Maria Valentina de los Angeles, 28, dons pink tennis shoes to perform rap songs about the Catholic faith. She is one of the artists that will sing the official song for Francis' visit to Colombia: "Let's Take The First Step."

Francis' trip to Colombia is scheduled to begin Wednesday through Sept. 11. Catholic News Agency reported that the trip includes visits to the cities of Bogotá, Villavicencio, Medellín, and Cartagena.

Maria Valentina told AFP that rapping for the leader of the Catholic Church is "an opportunity to show him our love the way that we know, which is through music."

"The cool thing about rap is that it sticks in your head easily,” she said. “And when it has the depth of truth, which is Christ, then it is even more striking."

AFP reported that the group performing for Francis recruited Maria Valentina for a rap interlude during their song after she won a televised reality show competition called "Another Level."

Her rap includes lyrics like "Colombia welcomes you with open arms," and "With one voice happily we say to you: blessed be God, who in his wisdom has brought you to our land to be its guide."

The nun said she likes the “rebellious spirit” of rap, which coincides with Francis's call for young to "make trouble,” or to fearlessly share their Catholic faith.

"Trouble in the way the Holy Father means it is being different, being bold, and bringing a message of joy, hope, and charity," she said. "Our intention beyond just thanking the Holy Father is to act as a church so that all people can sing with us."

Maria Valentina, a member of the Community of Eucharistic Communicators of the Heavenly Father in the city of Cali, said modern methods of art and communication like rap can be used to evangelize.

"God wants to be known through the media," she said. "He has to make himself known by way of current trends."

The group has recorded two records.

"I want to make more recordings, but more than making people fall in love with my voice, I want to make them fall in [love] with Jesus," she said.

She added that rap is not her first passion — her faith is.

"My dream is to be a good nun,” she said. “Making music is a second dream.”