Muslims who were outraged by cartoons of their Prophet must have been baffled to hear that Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, had likened himself to Jesus. Proof that the West is incorrigibly impious? Or new evidence that Mr Berlusconi, who boasted of the West's cultural superiority after September 11th, is a "crusader"? Neither really. Although-or perhaps, because-Christianity has been so central to south European society, Latins often exhibit a careless familiarity with its terminology and symbols that can surprise people from farther north. In French or Spanish, a trial or torment is called a "Calvary" after the place Jesus was crucified. And Italians call a hapless wretch a "poor Christ". That helps explain Mr Berlusconi's claim: "I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I'm a patient victim. I endure everything. I sacrifice myself for everyone."
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