VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI got an iPod on Friday, thanks to a group of workers at Vatican Radio.
According to a Catholic News Service story, the pontiff got a 2GB white Nano, loaded with, among other things, the radio station's programming in English, Italian and German, as well as classical tunes from Mozart, Chopin and Stravinsky.
The Recording Industry Association of America has sued the pontiff for purloining the classical music.
RIAA spokesperson Kitty McDaniels released a statement earlier today, "We continue to see the lawsuits as one component of an effort to educate people about copyright infringement and the unauthorized, illegal download and file sharing of music. What better way to get this point across than to sue the holiest, most religiously moral man on the planet for this evil and heinous digital atrocity?"
Ms. McDaniels continued, "The papacy has a long history of immoral behavior - from the crusades to the holocaust - but these are modern times, and his holiness has to learn that the catholic church may have been able to get away with war and genocide but they will not be able to get away with stealing three CDs worth of classical music."
In response to the RIAA's lawsuit the pope has excommunicated the RIAA.
Papal spokesman, Bishop Imbawe Tonaqua, said, "The RIAA has been harassing people with frivolous lawsuits for years and the balance of copyright law has tipped too far toward the entertainment companies' interests, hampering consumers' rights to use digital media. Trading music with friends is covered by fair use. His holiness is very close friends with the gentleman at the radio station."
Bishop Tonaqua continued, "By excommunicating the RIAA, his holiness has done something that hundreds of millions of people across the world have been wanting to do for years - take the hope of eternal salvation away from them, ensuring an eternity of agony in the fiery, brimstone-lined circles of hell."
It remains to be seen which side God will support.