Madonna expresses herself through mock crucifixion

After the mock crucifixions Madonna performed at every show incited intense scrutiny from religious leaders during her "Confessions" tour this summer, the singer is defending the stunt as an awareness message for the audience.

Each stop on the tour saw the Material Girl descending from the ceiling on a 20-foot mirrored cross during her "Live to Tell" number, wearing a crown of thorns and performing in front of images of AIDS and poverty victims.

"It is no different than a person wearing a cross or 'taking up the cross' as it says in the Bible...Rather, it is my plea to the audience to encourage mankind to help one another and to see the world as a unified whole," the performer said in a statement Thursday. "I believe in my heart that if Jesus were alive today he would be doing the same thing."

The spectacle raised the ire of religious leaders in nearly every country the tour visited. In the U.S., it is unclear whether the "Live to Tell" performance will be aired during Madonna's concert special on NBC in November, although President Kevin Reilly said it will likely be included because Madonna "felt strongly about it."

The "Confessions" tour visited several cities across Europe before finishing Thursday in Tokyo.