In July 2008, in front of thousands of onlookers at Piazza Navona, Rome, Guzzanti made contrary remarks about the Pope Benedict XVI, saying that he would be dead in 20 years, and would end up in hell as punishment for the Church's treatment of homosexuals, saying that he would soon be "tormented by great big demons - and very (sexually) active ones". Although threatened with punishments of up to five years in prison for these comments, she was not prosecuted. After these events Guzzanti explained her side of the story in the theatrical drama "Vilipendio!."