Pope Meets, Forgives Assaulter

VATICAN CITY, Jan. 14, 2010, 10.40 Hrs (cathnewsasia):

Pope Benedict XVI has met the 25-year-old Swiss-Italian Susan Maiolo, who knocked him down at Christmas Eve Mass, today and forgiven her for lunging at him.

Ms Maiolo, who has a history of psychiatric problems, met the Pope privately with members of her family after his general weekly audience, according to the Times Online website, quoting Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi.

Ms Maiolo jumped over a security barrier in St Peter’s Basilica at the beginning of Christmas Eve Mass as the Pope was processing towards the altar.

She pulled the Pope down by tugging at his robes. The Pope, 82, was unhurt in the melee, but Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, fell and broke his hip. He is still in hospital in Rome.

Since the attack she has been under treatment at a clinic at Subiaco outside Rome but was released last weekend and taken to a secret location chosen by her family.

The Vatican is conducting an investigation into the incident and officials have indicated that charges are unlikely.