On Christmas Day, newscaster incorrectly announces the Pope’s death

Team Udayavani, Dec 27, 2021, 10:40 AM IST

On Christmas Day, a newscaster made a historic gaffe by incorrectly announcing the Pope’s death.

Kylie Pentelow, an ITV presenter and journalist, was covering the Pope’s annual Christmas Day sermon at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. She made the error while discussing the 85-year-old’s appeal for more people to obtain vaccines and for vaccine equity across countries.

“The Pope’s festive address focused on his prayers for the pandemic to come to an end. He said vaccines should be made available to those most in need,” she said, and then added: “His death was announced…eh, excuse me.”

ITV just announced the death of The Pope by accident pic.twitter.com/GS5RNCdm5b

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) December 25, 2021

She rectified herself by saying, “eh, excuse me.” It’s clear she realised her mistake right away.

Despite the fact that the error lasted only two seconds, it was significant enough to have people talking on social media.

If I was the pope, I’d watch my back……they always say “accident” when it’s just a slip of dates for the announcement. https://t.co/HMTdBc1JTL

— Ms. Samantha ???? (@undrbedMonster) December 27, 2021

Every Hun in Scotland was rejoicing for half a second til it was correcting. https://t.co/4cMHfYB667

— Frankie McGinnes (@FrankieMcGinnes) December 25, 2021

SHE TOLD ME THAT POPE WAS DEAD https://t.co/xopuI7HLvU pic.twitter.com/HmqWbEq4l0

— Kev! (@KevinessW) December 25, 2021

A lot them have been dealt with a long time ago. Truth always in plain sight. I wonder when the Queen will get announced https://t.co/GUODFTJ19o

— GangsterGunner (@gangster_gunner) December 26, 2021

The 85-year-old decried the ongoing hostilities in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, in addition to vaccine equity between countries.