Katy Perry lawsuit: Nun embroiled in row over convent dies in court
A nun embroiled in a legal battle with singer Katy Perry has collapsed and died in the middle of a court hearing.
Sister Catherine Rose Holzman was one of two nuns involved in a lawsuit with the pop star over the sale of a Los Angeles convent.
She died on Friday aged 89.
Hours before her death, Ms Holzman spoke to Fox11 LA pleading with Perry to back off.
“To Katy Perry, please stop. It's not doing anyone any good except hurting a lot of people,” she said.
The singer had agreed to buy the eight-acre property in the city's Los Feliz neighborhood for $14.5 million in 2015.
However the nuns objected, saying they were uncomfortable with Perry owning the property.
Instead, they tried to sell the convent to a local entrepreneur to turn into a boutique hotel, but a judge ruled in 2016 that the sale was invalid.
The Sisters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary – an order of elderly nuns – have owned the convent for more than 40 years, but recently haven't lived there.
Ms Holzman served the church "with dedication and love for many years," Archbishop Jose Gomez said in a statement.
"I was sad to hear the news of her passing and I have offered a Mass for the repose of her soul," he added.
"We extend our prayers today to the Immaculate Heart of Mary community and to all her friends and loved ones."
