Vatican Finally Makes Peace with John Lennon

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 the Insider

Comments (36)

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  • Read the King James Bible you may have fame in this life time but there is a judgement of what you do in this lifetime where Jesus is KING and its sad to know how far away from God our country has come but it does say that in the last days thes...
    Anonymous 6/26/09 Reply
  • John said, " We are more famous than Jesus "...... Is that accurate ? It's easy to say things like that. What do you say ? your friend, Superbiblestar@yahoo.com
  • I am a middle-aged christian man. I believe in Christ, His death, and ressurection. I also loved the Beatles. We all say stupid things in life, John was no exception. John did harbor some deep anamosity towards the faith. But I forgave John a long...
    Anonymous 2/23/09 Reply
  • I have to say, after reading the comments on this site - anyone who spouts such vitriol at the Catholic Church and then condemns "hate" needs to look in the mirror and see the face of hypocrisy!
    Anonymous 12/22/08 Reply
  • You say God is the final judge, then in the same breath you damn the Church to a "special place in hell". And people accuse the Catholic Church of hypocrisy?
    Anonymous 12/10/08 Reply
  • I agree with a previous comment. I don't believe the comment was made as a boast but rather an obversation that the youth of the day thought more of the Beatles than Jesus Christ.
    Anonymous 12/8/08 Reply
  • john lennon who??
    Anonymous 11/27/08 Reply
    • wow seriously? that's hilarious. everybody know who he is.
      Anonymous 7/3/09
  • How about all his other blasphemy? This is dumb. They just want some good PR.
    Anonymous 11/26/08 Reply
  • The Catholic church has no right to proclaim THEY FORGIVE anybody!! God will be the final judge, not the Catholic church! How will God FORGIVE the priests of the Catholic church for molesting children for years?! And they kept covering it up by...
    Anonymous 11/25/08 Reply
  • About time they finally forgive him. The Beatles rock!
    Anonymous 11/25/08 Reply
  • religion and the vatican sucks anyway. Anyone who thinks they are some sort of emissary or voice of god is retarded, and I am sad that I live in a world where such people actually feel like they are better and should have power over others.
    Anonymous 11/25/08 Reply
  • Catholicism is all about interceding between God and man. The Church does *everything* on God's behalf, because we lay folk are too "impure" to interact with God directly.
    NeilC2 11/25/08 Reply
  • I think it's pretty arrogant for the Vatican or whatever to think they can forgive people on God's behalf. Kinda gay if you ask me.
    Anonymous 11/25/08 Reply
  • And they wonder why people aren't as religious. God, if the Vatican quite deeming stuff wrong or incorrect (Galileo is a good example), then the world would be MUCH BETTER OFF.
    Anonymous 11/24/08 Reply
  • Geez, does anyone actually care? It is much easier to say they screwed up when the person they screwed over is dead.
    Anonymous 11/24/08 Reply