Pope, Italian officials blasted at rally

ROME, July 9 (UPI) -- An Italian lawmaker said he was sorry after comedians performing at a Rome rally he sponsored provoked ire by attacking the pope and political figures.

Italy of Values opposition leader Antonio Di Pietro apologized Wednesday for remarks by comics Beppe Grillo and Sabina Guzzanti at a rally he held to protest government justice policy, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

ANSA said Guzzanti caused the most consternation at the Tuesday rally by attacking Pope Benedict XVI, saying, "In 20 years he'll be dead and he'll go to hell to be tormented by two gay devils."

Grillo, meanwhile, attacked Italian President Giorgio Napolitano for approving a measure that would give legal immunity to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, finishing his set by telling the president to "(expletive) off."

"Italy of Values as a whole and I personally disassociate with the unjust, unjustified and out-of-place comments expressed about the Pope and the president of the republic," Di Pietro told ANSA.