Woman knocks down Pope at Christmas Eve Mass

[alienlovechild 75]

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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091224/ap_on_...tican_christmas

[Nagishkaw 510]

Maybe she thought if she could just touch the hem of his garment........

[NickD 203]

Heard on the news a couple of hours ago, it was the same woman as last year, even gave her name, but I didn't memorize it. Pope should have washed her feet.

[Danno 1,228]

Obviously someone with a loose screw and a good spring in her step from the way she leaped that barrier.

[Robby999 1,024]

The Pope should add her to his security staff, she has gotten the jump on the existing staff twice now. He will at least know where she is next time!

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

The Pope should add her to his security staff, she has gotten the jump on the existing staff twice now. He will at least know where she is next time!

Maybe Obama should add her to his staff as well. . . Im sure she'd jump right in!

[Robby999 1,024]

Maybe Obama should add her to his staff as well. . . Im sure she'd jump right in!

[thongd4me 69]

how many points is knocking down a pope worth?

Lorne Michaels will put her on SNL as a guest host replacement for Joe Biden.

That will be her "work release" program.

[alienlovechild 75]

Lorne Michaels will put her on SNL as a guest host replacement for Joe Biden.

That will be her "work release" program.

It was Sinead O' Connor at the Vatican?

[thongd4me 69]

It was Sinead O' Connor at the Vatican?

You're right.

"Shyte-Head O'Connor" was in the house...so much drama - give me Linda Ronstadt any day