ITV News wrongly announced the death of the Pope today in an awkward TV gaffe.
Presenter Kylie Pentelow accidentally said Pope Francis had died as she reported on his annual Christmas address on Saturday.
Kylie was discussing the Pope’s traditional Urbi and Orbi Christmas Day blessing in the Vatican when she made the awkward blunder.
But despite appearing before hundreds to call for better vaccine equality and the need for more people to get jabbed around the world, Kylie mistakenly said the religious leader had died.
Speaking from the ITV News studio, the journalist said: “He said that vaccines should be made available to those most in need.”
She then went on to add: “His death was announced …”
Kylie quickly corrected herself, telling viewers: “Eh, excuse me,” before swiftly moving on to her next segment.
But those watching were quick to comment, with some more forgiving than others over the slip up.
One person wrote on Twitter: “The news reporter on ITV News announced the death of The Pope by accident, then swiftly moved on before she finished the announcement.
“Straight faced and all.”
Another said: “Someone get this newsreader a drink STAT. We all make mistakes.”
Someone else joked: “If the pope dies in the next six hours, the police will knocking on ITV News’ door…”
One worried viewer added: “Just to check, the Pope is all ok, isn’t he?!”
The Pope, who is 85-years-old, addressed faithful from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for his traditional Urbi and Orbi Christmas Day blessing on Saturday.
Urging people to unite in their personal and professional relationships, he said: “Our capacity for social relationships is sorely tried; there is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do it all by ourselves, to stop making an effort to encounter others and do things together.
“On the international level, too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue.
“Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all.”
The religious leader went on to ask God to “open hearts to ensure that necessary medical care — and vaccines in particular — are provided to those peoples who need them most”.
And he discussed the “great number of conflicts, crises and disagreements” in the world.
“We continue to witness a great number of conflicts, crises and disagreements,” the Pope said.
“These never seem to end; by now we hardly even notice them.
“We have become so used to them that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence, we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters.”
