Musician and pop culture icon David Bowie died after an 18 month battle with cancer on Sunday (Jan. 10). The singer was 69.
As the world received news of the artist’s departure, religious leaders have begun to share their own condolences, respecting the singer for his lifelong devotion to music. Bowie was actively clear about his provocative religious views, and his art reflected his opinions.
Among the religious leaders who have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the British artist’s passing was senior Vatican official, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Vatican’s Council for Culture. Ravasi tweeted famous lyrics from Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” according to the Religion News Service.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also spoke on the late singer’s death, telling BBC “I’m very, very saddened to hear of his death. I remember sitting listening to his songs endlessly…and always really relishing what he was, what he did, the impact he had.”
The impact of Bowie’s legacy was felt stateside, as well. President of leading evangelical school The King’s College in New York City, Greg Thornbury, tweeted a photo of himself performing a Bowie’s “Starman.”
During his lifetime, Bowie had explored several major religions including Tibetan Buddhism, Satanism and Christianity. Most recently, Bowie had seemingly settled on Atheism.
To learn more about the many religions David Bowie explored, visit Deily.
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