Vatican 'forgives' Lennon for 'more popular than Jesus' remark

49 years ago today John's "The Beatles are more popular than Jesus Christ" comment was widely reported in North American papers sparking controversy in the middle of their 1966 tour.

The following is an article from Nov. 2008.

More than 40 years after Christians were infuriated by the Beatles' claim that they were "more popular than Jesus", the Roman Catholic Church has made peace with the Fab Four.

Saturday's edition of the Vatican's official newspaper absolves John Lennon of his notorious remark, saying that "after so many years it sounds merely like the boasting of an English working-class lad struggling to cope with unexpected success".

In a lengthy editorial marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' famous White Album, L'Osservatore Romano heaps lavish praise on the British band.

"The talent of Lennon and the other Beatles gave us some of the best pages in modern pop music," said the newspaper, which has recently tried to shake off its stuffy image by covering popular culture events such as the Oscars and inviting articles from Muslim and Jewish contributors.

By: Nick Squires

Source: The Telegraph

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