Christian, pseudonym of Gaetano Cristiano Vincenzo Rossi, was an Italian singer. He briefly pursued a football career but was forced to retire due to cardiac arrhythmia. From a young age he performed with his sister in small venues in Sicily and Milan, later entering a Milan talent competition where he was discovered by lyricist Leo Chiosso, who helped launch his recording career. He adopted the stage name Christian, reportedly inspired by Mina, and debuted in the late 1960s. He achieved early success with songs such as “Firmamento,” which won the Festivalbar youth section in 1970, and gained wider popularity with “Daniela,” which became an international hit. He represented Italy at the Sanremo Festival multiple times (including 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1990), with “Cara” among his most successful entries. In 1980 he performed at the Vatican in the presence of Pope John Paul II, earning him the nickname “the Pope’s singer.” He died in Milan on September 26, 2025 from a cerebral hemorrhage.
