Vatican to review security after papal attack

(December 26, 2009) The Vatican will review its security procedures after a woman jumped a barrier and rushed at Pope Benedict XVI for the second time in two years, managing to knock him down before being pulled away by security, the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said Friday. Pope Benedict, 82, wasn't hurt and delivered his traditional Christmas Day greetings in 65 languages from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square. While a bit unsteady at first, he also delivered a short speech about the world's trouble spots without problem. The incident in St. Peter's Basilica before the Christmas Mass raised fresh questions about security for the pontiff. The attacker even wore the same red-hooded sweat shirt as she did in the previous year. The Vatican identified the woman involved in Thursday night's incident as Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss-Italian national with psychiatric problems. Father Federico Lombardi said it's not realistic to think the Vatican can ensure 100 percent security for the Pope considering he is regularly surrounded by tens of thousands of people for his weekly audiences, Masses, papal greetings and other events. "It seems that they intervened at the earliest possible moment in a situation. The Vatican's security officials will nonetheless review the episode and "try to learn from experience," he said. While Pope Benedict was unhurt in the fall, a retired Vatican diplomat, French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, fractured his hip in the commotion. He will be operated on in the coming days at Rome's Gemelli hospital, said Nicola Cerbino, a hospital spokesman. Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno remarked: "We need in some way to be more vigilant over all, because in an open and globalized world, the number of unbalanced people and their aggressiveness can increase."