An ITV News reader has accidentally announced the death of The Pope on Christmas Day in an almighty live television blunder.
Presenter Kylie Pentelow was reporting on 85-year-old Pope Francis’s annual Christmas Day message from a rain-soaked St Peter’s Square in the Vatican City.
However, during the report, some wires were seemingly crossed as she went from the Pope’s comments on Covidvaccines to announcing that he had just died.
The ITV Evening News presenter began saying: “He said vaccines should be made available to those most in need.”
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Before adding: “His death was announced...excuse me.” Pentelow seemed to recognise her mistake immediately and apologised to the viewers.
However, the error did not go unnoticed and unfortunately for Pentelow the clip soon wound up on social media and prompted a frenzy.
ITV just announced the death of The Pope by accident pic.twitter.com/GS5RNCdm5b
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) December 25, 2021
One of the great live TV blunders on ITV just now as the newsreader inadvertently announced the death of the Pope
— Chris Devine (@chrsdvn) December 25, 2021
ITV news accidentally announce The Pope's death pic.twitter.com/ZMHBcuYQcE
— UK is with EU (@ukiswitheu) December 25, 2021
The Pope hasn’t died!
— Jamie Pragnell (@jamie_pragnell) December 25, 2021
ITV news. “His death was announced”@itvnews pic.twitter.com/UxqRBVVKWg
in case you missed it…here’s itv announcing the pope’s death lmao pic.twitter.com/3gN8Am2hxm
— melody (@melodycellody) December 25, 2021
Who amongst us hasn’t accidentally announced the death of the Pope to the entire nation on Christmas Day?https://t.co/mBRu63TSap
— Alistair Coleman (@alistaircoleman) December 25, 2021
Needless to say, The Pope is not dead and at the time of writing is alive and well. Our thoughts go out to Pentelow at this time who in all fairness handled the gaffe seamlessly.
During his speech, the Argentinian said encouraged world leaders to work together to end the pandemic. “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,” said Francis.
“On the international level too, there is the risk of avoiding dialogue, the risk that this complex crisis will lead to taking shortcuts rather than setting out on the longer paths of dialogue. Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all.”
