Pope Benedict XVI
20 PHOTOS and Videos: Pope Benedict XVI was tackled by a mentally unstable woman at the Vatican during the 2009 Christmas Eve Mass. Bodyguards quickly took the red hooded woman down. She was later arrested by Vatican police. The Pope was helped up, he regained his composure, and went on with the Christmas Eve Mass.
According to the Associated Press, "A Vatican spokesman said a woman jumped barriers and knocked down the pontiff as he was arriving for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass. There was a sudden commotion in St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Benedict XVI walked down the main aisle to begin the traditional Christmas Eve Mass. As the procession made its way toward the altar gasps rang out through the public and a commotion could be seen among a group of clergymen. Everything came to a halt as the Pope's bodyguards rushed to the area."
An amateur video showed a woman in a red hooded sweatshirt jumping over the barriers and rushing the Holy Father, grabbing his robes and knocking him down in the process. It was over almost as soon as it started, and other bystanders said they would not have known what happened except for the gasps and security bodyguards running up the aisle to protect the pope.
Reports by Vatican spokesman Rev. Ciro Benedettini, say the woman seemed mentally unstable and had been arrested by Vatican police. Cardinal Roger Etchegaray was also knocked down in the commotion, and was taken to the hospital for observation. The Pope was unharmed and continued on with the Mass late Thursday like nothing had happened.
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Sources: msnbc.com; nytimes.com; associatedpress.com
Photo: Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful as he celebrates the Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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