Vatican Finally Makes Peace with John Lennon

John Lennon Film, "NOWHERE BOY" to Be Made

The Vatican has finally forgiven John Lennon of the Beatles for a boastful remark he made 42 years ago. What did the rock icon tell a British newspaper in 1966 to provoke controversy?

The Vatican's newspaper Osservatore Romano said the remark -- in which Lennon declared that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ -- simply amounted to a boast by a young man grapping with sudden fame, Reuters reports.

"The remark by John Lennon, which triggered deep indignation mainly in the United States, after many years sounds only like a 'boast' by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success, after growing up in the legend of Elvis and rock and roll," the newspaper said.

The article, marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' work "The White Album," went on to praise the groundbreaking group, saying it became "a source of inspiration for more than one generation of pop musicians," Reuters said.

Published 11/23/08 by