Pope Benedict XVI assaulted during Christmas Eve mass (video)

[Vox Ducis]

That crazy bitch did it again !

A woman has been arrested and taken to hospital after jumping over barriers and dragging the Pope to the ground at Christmas Eve Mass.

Susanna Maiolo, 25, who is of dual Swiss and Italian nationality, attacked Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin service at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. She was seen to throw herself at the 82-year-old, grab his vestments near the neck and pull him to the floor. A spokesperson for the Vatican spokesman said the Pope quickly got to his feet and was unhurt, praising his "great self-control and control of the situation".

However, French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray was also knocked down in the incident and suffered a broken hip. The 87-year-old Cardinal now requires an operation, which will take place at Rome's Gemelli hospital.

Ms Maiolo was said by the Vatican to be "apparently unbalanced" and was taken to hospital after being questioned by police. A Vatican spokesperson claimed she tried to approach Pope Benedict on the same occasion a year ago but failed to get past the security barrier.

In the latest incident, TV pictures showed Benedict's black-clad bodyguards rushing towards the scene, which happened off camera. Slow motion footage showed a plastic chair flying into the air as bodyguards rushed around the Pope and stopped the Ma Maiolo. The crowd applauded as the Pope stood up and resumed his walk to the Basilica's main altar to begin Mass.

Benedict showed no discomfort as he read out his Christmas Eve homily - and made no reference to the assault. He spoke out against selfishness, which he said "makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires that stand against the truth and separate us from one another."

The Mass began two hours early, instead of the traditional midnight hour, because of the Pope's age. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the change was planned "to make Christmas a little less tiring for the Pope, who has many engagements during this time".

In the incident last year, a woman - now believed to be Ms Maiolo - jumped over barriers and got close to the Pope but was quickly stopped by security.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wor...15507803?f=rss

Merry Christmas to all of you !!!

[Qhost]

Its a Christian conspiracy.

"The 87-year-old Cardinal now requires an operation"
Damn, a 30 year old pope wouldn't need that. Since when was older better?

[LiquidIce]

Haha, she had the hots for him.

Power attracts

[Hammer Tank]

the chick at 1:20 is hot

[PROJECT PAT]

lol awesome.

[Mantikore]

she couldnt wait to get onto his papalicious pen0r

[Insomaniacal]

Well, the guy showed some character by not mentioning the assault that just happened.

This sounds like some wacked out lady, great way to get yourself incarcerated I guess.

[Lawlexander]

Crazy bitch should burn in hell. Her family should all be jailed and properties handed over to the Church. They are heretics and should be excommunicated for the rest of eternity.

[not me]

Incredibly, the same bitch did it LAST YEAR also. You would think they would do something about her.

[FireStarter]

Glad they got her into the hospital for mental assessment. I don't care how for or against religion you are, a sane person doesn't jump the pope.

[Usama Bin Laden]

Haha, crazy bitch pwned the pope, at CHRISTMAS?? She's my new hero!

[whocares123]

they began the midnight mass at 10 pm due to the pope's age? what a fucking cop out. and what the fuck does being old have to do with being up at midnight anyway? take a fucking nap earlier then.

i will say at least pope benedict can actually stand and walk and speak. when pope john paul II was pope, for basically the last 20 years of his "reign" the motherfucker was so decrepit he just sat in his chair, hunched over, with a blank stare on his face, like some old piece of shit doing 1st of the month grocery shopping. it annoyed the fuck out of me. jesus christ, die already, or retire, and pick someone in their 40s or 50s for a change.