I totally understand why the thread about ... a certain prime minister was deleted, but the question itself was interesting.

In Italy we do say "Povero Cristo" as to say poor fellow.
As we often used "Cristiano" for "Person".

This probably goes back to the medieval times, when all the people was supposed to be christian, at least in Italy, in spite of all other religions, that in the land of the Popes weren't considered at all.

I must say that I still hear this word used in this way "Cristiano" as "person" only by older people, the saying "Povero Criso" is widely used still.

Gee...I feel proud, no politics involved!!

Alessandra,

Thanks very much for answering the question I asked about the expression I saw mentioned in a news story. I didn’t want to start a political discussion, either, so I’m glad you posted it here.

It is interesting that Italians use “Cristo” in this way, but perhaps it has become common enough that it doesn’t really have a religious connotation as it would to us in America.

- Roz

Thanks.
I believe that the way it is used here is not offensive at all.
It is used to describe a GOOD person that goes through a lot of troubles and not for his fault, like a hard worker that cannot meet the ends. Or a woman that struggle with work/family/children/bills and needs help.

I believe that it started as a similitude with Christ's tribolations.

The "POOR" doesn't mean that this must be a poor person, just somebody that suffers for many/ different reasons without fault.

WOW even prouder...
Talking inpersonally of POLITICS AND RELIGION....Pauline, you must be proud of me!!

Well, here in the US, we do a similar thing with the name Christ.
I imagine that very few people who say: "Oh, for Christ sake!" are really thinking about Christ when they say it.
It is just an exclamatory sentence. Like, "Oh, for Heaven's sake; Oh, for God's sake; Oh for Pete's sake."
Come to think of it...I wonder who Pete was?

quote:

we do a similar thing with the name Christ.
I imagine that very few people who say: "Oh, for Christ sake!" are really thinking about Christ when they say it.

But some people would be more offended by that expression than by "heaven's sake." It would be considered by religious Christians to be breaking whichever commandment it is that tells you not to take the name of the Lord in vain. From what Alessanda said most Italians wouldn't take offense at the "povero cristo" expression.

That's because we're so used to Catholic religion that we do not take it THAT seriously .

quote:

who Pete was

You remember... Pete, the guy who was the foundation for the whole thing! Yeah, that's him!