Woman, who knocked down Pope, to treat · 2009-12-25 17:29
The woman who knocked down Pope Benedict XVI during Christmas Eve mass at St Peter’s Basilica will undergo “necessary treatment” in hospital, the Vatican said on Friday.
Susanna Maiolo, 25, was hospitalised after stunning pilgrims in the cavernous basilica by leaping over a security barricade and pulling Pope Benedict, 82, to the floor in a dramatic start to the mass late on Thursday.
Woman, of dual Swiss and Italian nationality, was described as “apparently unbalanced.” Vatican security staff said they recognised the woman as being the same person who had tried to jump a barricade to get close to the Pope at the same service last year, BBC informs.
The Pope had to be helped up by his master of ceremonies.
Masses of pilgrims gasped as a security guard tried to overpower Maiolo, who succeeded in grabbing Pope Benedict’s vestments near the neck and pulling him to the floor as several other people fell over in the melee.
Relieved applause broke out as the pontiff got back on his feet within moments, AFP informs.
Pope Benedict went on to celebrate the mass undaunted by the assault, speaking out in his homily against selfishness as Christians across the world celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.
Prominent French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, broke a leg in the incident though he was several metres (yards) away. He will undergo surgery for a fracture of a thigh bone, the Vatican said in a communique.
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