religious illiteracy again

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 15, 2009

Does UPI still employ editors? proofreaders?

Does anybody in the shop know anything about religion?

Consider the caption on the photo that accompanied this story about the Pope's visit to Nazareth:

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a vesper on Basilica of Annunciation in the Galilee town of Nazareth in northern Israel on May 14, 2009.

Since presumably this gem was written by someone who speaks English (as opposed to someone who uses the Google translator), it's somewhat surprising that the definite article is missing; most native English speakers would say that the Pope celebrated on the basilica. 

That assumes, of course, that he was celebrating on the roof. Since the photo shows the Pontiff inside the building, perhaps it would be better to say "in the basilica."

Which would leave us with just one more question:

What's a vesper?