Placido Domingo set for Pope's U.S. party

WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) -- Tenor Placido Domingo is set to perform at the 81st birthday party for Pope Benedict XVI at the Italian Embassy in Washington, officials said.

Hundreds of guests, including U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, have been invited to the massive April 16 celebration, commissioned by past and current U.S. Vatican ambassadors, The Washington Times reported Sunday.

However, it is not clear if the pope will even attend the event, The Times said.

The pope has yet to receive an official invitation to the celebration, former Vatican ambassador Thomas P. Melady told the newspaper, adding it wasn't in Benedict's "tradition to attend parties."

Domingo plans to sing some of the pope's best-loved tunes just in case he makes an appearance, the Times reported.