(CNN) -- When John Lennon remarked in 1966 that the Beatles were then "more popular than Jesus" his comments prompted outrage in the United States. But this weekend the Vatican's newspaper paid tribute to the band on the 40th anniversary of the release of the "White Album" in an article interpreted by some as a papal pardon for Lennon. John Lennon appears with wife Yoko Ono in 1968, two years after he made his "more popular than Jesus" comments. CNN's Alessio Vinci spoke to Steve Turner, author "The Gospel According To The Beatles," about the controversy that helped to end the Beatles' touring career.
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Author: John Lennon never meant "more popular than Jesus" comment to offend
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Lennon never actually retracted the controversial remark
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Vatican newspaper paid tribute to the Beatles on 40th anniversary of "White Album"
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Beatles author says band were a "spiritual force" themselves
I know the @placeholder did say something at the time.