Pope Knocked Down By "Unstable Person"

[FSTargetDrone]

AP via Yahoo:

Woman knocks down Pope at Christmas Eve Mass

By ARIEL DAVID, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY – A woman jumped the barriers in St. Peter's Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass on Thursday.

The 82-year-old pope quickly got up and was unhurt, said a Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini. Footage aired on Italy's RAI state TV showed a woman dressed in a red jumper vaulting over the wooden barriers and rushing the pope before being swarmed by bodyguards.

The commotion occurred as the pope's procession was making its way toward the main altar and shocked gasps rang out through the public that packed the basilica. The procession came to a halt and security rushed to the trouble spot.

Benedettini said the woman who pushed the pope appeared to be mentally unstable and had been arrested by Vatican police. He said she also knocked down Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who was taken to hospital for a check up.

"During the procession an unstable person jumped a barrier and knocked down the Holy Father," Benedettini told The Associated Press by telephone. "(The pope) quickly got up and continued the procession."

After the incident, Benedict, flanked by tense bodyguards, resumed his walk to the basilica's main altar to start the Mass. He did appear somewhat shaken and leaned heavily on aides and an armrest as he sat down in his chair.

Benedict made no reference to the incident as the service started. As a choir sang, he sprinkled incense on the altar before opening the Mass with the traditional wish for peace in Latin: "Pax vobis" ("Peace be with you"). The faithful responded: "Et cum spiritu tuo" ("And also with you").

It was the second year in a row there was a security breach at the service. At the end of last year's Mass a woman who had jumped the barriers got close to the pope but was quickly blocked on the ground by security.

Benedettini said it was not immediately known if the same woman was behind Thursday's incident.

I wonder if it is the same woman.

[Oskuro]

Hmmmm, some Berlusconi-style popularity-boosting manuever we have here

Now, more seriously, I'd bet the woman meant no ill towards the pope, and probably knocked him over accidentally as she struggled with security or something. I'd bet she is a fervent believer who wanted to be closer to his holyness. Yep, mentally unstable allright.

[CarsonPalmer]

Gee, I wonder if this is the track world's revenge for the deranged priest who tackled the marathon leader a few years back.

[Death from the Sea]

It is the same woman from 2008, see the link.

The identified her as Susanna Maiolo and say that she has psychiatric problems and that they immediately took her for treatment.

[Mr. Coffee]

Film at Eleven! Pope gets back up, waves to the croiwd, and goes back to what he was doing.

[Bounty]

One thing I noticed on the news: that is one quick-witted security guard. By the time she's on the fence at 0:09 he's already coming at her full-speed.

[Singular Intellect]

Clearly, it was god's will that the Pope got knocked down. He should kneel in prayer and be thankful.

[FSTargetDrone]

Unfortunately, one of the other men near the pope suffered a broken bone during the scuffle.

First reports I heard was that it was his hip, which is a difficult injury for an 87-year-old man, but this Reuters' story said it's a femur. Not good, of course, but better than a broken hip.

Vatican mulls options over woman who lunged at pope

10:19am EST

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Saturday it had not yet decided whether to take legal action against the woman who lunged at Pope Benedict while calls grew for more efficient security to protect the pontiff.

The pope appeared fit as he made his usual appearance on Saturday at noon from his window overlooking St Peter's Square to address the faithful on the day after Christmas, a national holiday in Italy.

The Vatican said its justice officials would decide over the next few days what steps to take against Susanna Maiolo, 25, an Italian-Swiss national.

Maiolo shocked the Catholic world and Vatican security when she jumped over a barricade in the basilica, lunged at Pope Benedict, grabbed his vestments and knocked him to the floor.

Usually those who commit offences in the Vatican, which is a sovereign state surrounded by Rome, are handed over to the Italian justice system for prosecution and eventual trial.

The Turkish gunman who shot and nearly killed Pope John Paul in St Peter's Square in 1981 was tried in an Italian court and sentenced to life in prison.

But Maiolo is said to have a history of mental illness and it is still not clear if she had any intention of harming the Pope. She was not armed and he was not harmed.

A spokesman said Vatican justice "is usually benevolent," signaling Maiolo will most likely be put into long-term care in an Italian psychiatric institution with no charges filed.

While Maiolo may not face trial, Vatican security is already being tried by the media and privately in the Vatican itself.

Vatican sources said a number of top level officials have privately called for what one called "a detailed review" of security procedures that would allow the pope to maintain contact with the public but reduce risk.

"GREATER VIGILANCE"

The Vatican has come under criticism because Maiolo had tried last year at the same Christmas Eve event to jump over the barricade and lunge at the pope but was that time blocked.

"Given that dramatic background, it is hugely embarrassing that this was allowed to happen this year," the Belfast telegraph said in an editorial. "Surely, with hindsight, the Vatican authorities should have been much more prepared for any eventuality."

French Cardinal Paul Poupard told a French radio station that "greater vigilance was called for."

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi has said it was impossible to provide watertight security for the pope because being close to people is part of his mission.

"The pope wants to have a direct, pastoral relationship with people where you can touch children, shake hands and do what you want to do and what the people want you to do," Lombardi said.

"If you want watertight security you can't do that. Being out of touch with people, being far from them, runs against the spirit of his mission so there will always be a risk," he said.

With the exception of seats in the front rows, tickets for papal events are not assigned to specific individuals. They are free and can be had at the Vatican or in churches around Rome with little or no controls on those who get them.

Visitors to the basilica pass through metal detectors but security once they get inside is relatively light.

Meanwhile the Vatican said that French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, who broke a femur bone when he fell in the basilica, would likely undergo surgery on Sunday.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

[Mr. Coffee]

I'm just wondering how long it'll be before the Pope does all his public apperances from inside I giant bullet-proof lexan hamsterball. I mean, they already kinda did that with the Pope-Mobile.

[Themightytom]

Gee, I wonder if this is the track world's revenge for the deranged priest who tackled the marathon leader a few years back.

She DID hurdle over the barrier to get him...

[Manus Celer Dei]

The only thing I could think of when I heard about this was Bill Bailey's routine about "Things to do before you die"

[sexyloser]

She found out he was a Sith Lord.