Pope fine for Christmas blessing after fall
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI is fine and will appear as planned for his traditional Christmas Day blessing hours after being knocked down by a woman who jumped the barrier at the start of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
But Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said Friday that 87-year-old French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, a longtime Vatican diplomat, fractured his hip in the fall and will be operated on.
Lombardi identified the woman as Susanna Maiolo, a Swiss-Italian national with psychiatric problems.
Maiolo jumped the barricade at the start of Christmas Eve Mass and lunged for the pope as he processed down the aisle. As security guards brought her down, she grabbed Benedict's vestments and pulled him down with her. - AP
But Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said Friday that 87-year-old French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, a longtime Vatican diplomat, fractured his hip in the fall and will be operated on.
Lombardi identified the woman as Susanna Maiolo, a Swiss-Italian national with psychiatric problems.
Maiolo jumped the barricade at the start of Christmas Eve Mass and lunged for the pope as he processed down the aisle. As security guards brought her down, she grabbed Benedict's vestments and pulled him down with her. - AP
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