More popular than Jesus was "bigger than God", but reaction was minimal. In a 2008 article marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' double album "The Beatles" (also known as the "White Album"), the Vatican newspaper, "L'Osservatore Romano", issued the statement: In response to the statement, Starr said "Didn't the Vatican say we were possibly Satanic, and they've still forgiven us? I think the Vatican's got more to talk about than the Beatles." In its 14 April 2010 edition, "L'Osservatore Romano" responded to Starr's comments, stating that "John Lennon had no need of forgiveness from the Vatican, "L'Osservatore Romano" reprinted its 1966 article on
More popular than Jesus came into contact with the Revd Ronald Gibbons, who told reporters that a Beatles version of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" might provide the Church of England with "the very shot in the arm it needs". The day after Cleave's article appeared in the "Evening Standard", Beatles press officer Tony Barrow offered "Datebook", a US teen magazine, rights to all four interviews. Barrow believed the pieces were important to show fans that the Beatles were progressing beyond simple pop music and producing more intellectually challenging work. As "Datebook" was a socially progressive magazine that addressed subjects such as interracial dating