Woman knocks down pope at Christmas Mass
ITALY: An apparently deranged woman knocked Pope Benedict XVI
to the ground after vaulting over security barricades in a dramatic
start to Christmas Eve mass at St Peter’s Basilica.
Video footage showed the woman in a red sweatshirt leaping over the
barricade and grabbing the 82-year-old pope as he began the traditional
procession to the altar on Thursday.
The pontiff emerged unharmed and later delivered his homily
undaunted, speaking out against selfishness as Christians across the
world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
“Conflict and lack of reconciliation in the world stem from the fact
that we are locked into our own interests and opinions, into our own
little private world,” said the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.1
billion Catholics.
The woman, described as “apparently unbalanced” by the Vatican
spokesman, was questioned by Vatican police, the ANSA news agency
reported. VATICAN CITY, Friday, AFP |