Holy Father knocked down at Midnight Mass

[7_Sorrows]

I’m just glad the Pope is Ok.

Best video clip so far that i’ve seen: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8430118.stm

thanks for the link. that is the first footage i have seen of the incident. i see what another poster means by how agile the person was. she or he was quick and had no problem jumping high enough to make it over the rope or whatever the barrier was.

it does show how at risk the Pope is by simply walking down the aisle, but what a blessing for people to be able to be that close to him during the Mass.

 

[Robert_Michael]

I find this terrible. The hate people have astonishes me, yet, at the same time, it doesn’t. Jesus said Christians would be hated and persecuted. Catholics get a lot of it.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

It made me so mad when I heard about that ‘lady’ (I could think of a lot more insulting and crude terms she deserves to be called).The Swiss Guard should have dragged her outside and beaten her to within an inch of her life and then drag her bloody, bruised and beaten down body in front of the cameras to show others that you don’t mess with the Pope.

the best way to minimize this sort of stuff is to make a strong object lesson of anyone who dares try to assault the Pope. The next time we see this woman, she should look like she went several rounds with a grizzly bear. Even deranged individuals will recognize that old saying: pain hurts a lot.

Really? You honestly believe this?

 

[Franze]

The anti-clericals in Spain are very happy with that, the church is beginning to face prosecution and mental disorders women or men are the excuse, very worrying.

 

[canadianguy1143]

It is being reported that this is the SAME woman that attacked the Pope last year

foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581116,00.html

If I was the paranoid type, I’d say that some people on the inside were in on this. Since it is established that you need a ticket and some identifying information to be in St. Peter’s, and after last year’s incident, how this woman could normally get a ticket, leads me to suggest this.

 

[Bbigam]

It made me so mad when I heard about that ‘lady’ (I could think of a lot more insulting and crude terms she deserves to be called).The Swiss Guard should have dragged her outside and beaten her to within an inch of her life and then drag her bloody, bruised and beaten down body in front of the cameras to show others that you don’t mess with the Pope.

In fairness to the Swiss Guard and whoever else was handling security (i.e. Italian police or something), it is virtually impossible to defend against the lone unarmed attacker. Obviously, metal detectors, x-rays, dogs, etc. can detect most weapons if employed properly. Also, a good Intelligence section can help try to unravel any potential conspiracies, but the lone whackjob is very difficult to defend against if they unarmed since there is no red flags that might pop up.

Unless you are going to have His Holiness covered with more linebackers than a quarterback at the Super Bowl or going to keep him in an underground bunker all day, the best way to minimize this sort of stuff is to make a strong object lesson of anyone who dares try to assault the Pope. The next time we see this woman, she should look like she went several rounds with a grizzly bear. Even deranged individuals will recognize that old saying: pain hurts a lot.

Again, I hope the Pope and the Cardinal are both okay.

I think John Paul II’s example of forgiving his would-be assassin is probably a more Christian response, though maybe she shouldn’t be allowed to any more papal Masses. I do hope the Holy Father and Cardinal are okay.
Merry Christmas!

 

[a_priori]

When the “quarterback” gets sacked it’s time to rethink the strategy and skills of the offensive line.

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

People, there’s really no excuse for some of the posts me and Michael Francis had to delete. Show some discretion in your posting.

 

[Pat_the_elder]

Sorry - no excuses - just poor security. If it means that the Pope is further away from the congregation then so be it! And Eric, (Post 40) shouldn’t it be “Michael Francis and I”?

Pat

 

[Madaglan]

It is being reported that this is the SAME woman that attacked the Pope last year

foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581116,00.html

If I was the paranoid type, I’d say that some people on the inside were in on this. Since it is established that you need a ticket and some identifying information to be in St. Peter’s, and after last year’s incident, how this woman could normally get a ticket, leads me to suggest this.

What I found odd is that she had a choice spot right along the processional way.

 

[ELROD]

I am not happy with whoever is supposed to be protecting our pope. They need to be fired and those in charge of them need to be fired. Absolutely disgusting. On top of that the fool that grabbed the girl was actually the reason the pope fell down.

 

[Miss_Linda]

I was watching the EWTN broadcast of the Mass yesterday, and was quite astonished at the incident. I am praying for the woman who did this. From the news reports I have read, she has “psychiatric issues” and certainly needs our prayers. In some of the footage I saw, she was tackled by the security officers immediately upon leaping over the barriers. I do hope she wasn’t injured in the attack. I am truly thankful that the Holy Father was not injured when he fell.

 

[nice2000]

It is being reported that this is the SAME woman that attacked the Pope last year

foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581116,00.html

If I was the paranoid type, I’d say that some people on the inside were in on this. Since it is established that you need a ticket and some identifying information to be in St. Peter’s, and after last year’s incident, how this woman could normally get a ticket, leads me to suggest this.

You can call me paranoid, because it seems very suspicious to me.

 

[nice2000]

What I found odd is that she had a choice spot right along the processional way.

ditto! We must all pray for the Holy See greatly.

Here is my opinion and even though it is 5 months away…My take on it is that there is someone within the vatican that is tryng to make him so sick physically and mentally that he will not be able to attend his scheduled visit to Fatima on May 13th.

 

[yellowbird]

I was watching the EWTN broadcast of the Mass yesterday, and was quite astonished at the incident. I am praying for the woman who did this. From the news reports I have read, she has “psychiatric issues” and certainly needs our prayers. In some of the footage I saw, she was tackled by the security officers immediately upon leaping over the barriers. I do hope she wasn’t injured in the attack. I am truly thankful that the Holy Father was not injured when he fell.

I agree Linda. I am so thankful the Pope wasn’t hurt, and my heart goes out to the Cardinal who apparently broke his hip (according to an article I read) - I pray he heals quickly. But I’m also praying for this woman. Mental illness is such a terrible cross to bear.

 

[Fitz]

Hello Catholic Guy,

Maybe you can tell me who is ultimately in charge of his security. I asked earlier, but no one is telling me who is in charge. Do the catholic laypeople even know who is protecting their pope?

Who is ultimately responsible?

I did see a Knight of Columbus there, I think. Are there any KOC’s that are in the know on this?

The Swiss Guards have protected the Pope since:
Swiss Guards is the name given to the Swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts since the late 15th century. In contemporary usage it refers to the Pontifical Swiss Guard of Vatican City. They have generally had a high reputation for discipline and loyalty to their employers. Apart from household and guard units, some formations have also served as fighting troops; regular Swiss mercenary regiments served as line troops in various armies, notably those of France, Spain and Naples up to the 19th century.

 

[7_Sorrows]

i was wondering if perhaps the Pope tripped over the security man who tackled the woman.
i haven’t seen much footage, so i can’t really tell.

thank goodness the Pope wasn’t attacked like Berlusconi (?spelling) was several days ago. that could have happened.

i also do not understand how this same woman was able to gain access if she tried to do the same thing last year. kind of like the couple crashing the party and getting close to the obamas. although that couple had no intention of hurting the obamas, it shows how security needs to be beefed up around these people.

the man who tried to kill Pope John Paul II will be released from prison early next year. let’s hope they have his name down and a picture to give security to make sure he doesn’t get close to Pope Benedict XVI.

 

[umbro2914]

I’ve been reading some of these posts and I can’t believe the amount of absurdity some people write on here…
If you want the pope 20 meters from the people, surrounded by bulletproof glass, and surrounded by a wall of security personel, then why even bother have our Pope do mass in the first place? Why not just close St. Peters Basilica, and have the mass tranmitted on TV, that way at least our Pope will be safe… be real people. This is the face of our religion, and if he cannot feel safe in a crowd of his own brethren, then what kind of message is that sending?
Everyone attacking the security need to watch the video and realize that the security personnel acted promptly and may have even saved the Holy Father’s life. And whoever said to kick the Swiss out and put in US security… please; I hope your joking.
Although I believe security is important for our Holy Father, we cannot be overfocused on it. Because for every 1 person who manages to disrupt to Pope, think of all the hundreds of thousands if not millions of people the Pope has managed to touch and affect by being able to be in their midst.

Oh by the way, shouldnt God’s protection of the Pope and all of us be sufficient?
“Such is your will Lord” - Obviously it was not our Pope’s time to go yesterday.

 

[canadianguy1143]

I’ve been reading some of these posts and I can’t believe the amount of absurdity some people write on here…
If you want the pope 20 meters from the people, surrounded by bulletproof glass, and surrounded by a wall of security personel, then why even bother have our Pope do mass in the first place? Why not just close St. Peters Basilica, and have the mass tranmitted on TV, that way at least our Pope will be safe… be real people. This is the face of our religion, and if he cannot feel safe in a crowd of his own brethren, then what kind of message is that sending?
Everyone attacking the security need to watch the video and realize that the security personnel acted promptly and may have even saved the Holy Father’s life. And whoever said to kick the Swiss out and put in US security… please; I hope your joking.
Although I believe security is important for our Holy Father, we cannot be overfocused on it. Because for every 1 person who manages to disrupt to Pope, think of all the hundreds of thousands if not millions of people the Pope has managed to touch and affect by being able to be in their midst.

Oh by the way, shouldnt God’s protection of the Pope and all of us be sufficient?
“Such is your will Lord” - Obviously it was not our Pope’s time to go yesterday.

What is absurd is that a known attacker of the Pope was allowed access to St. Peter’s Basilica. I know absolutely nothing about security detail, but I know that is idiotic in the extreme.

Recently a person was arrested for threatening Michelle Obama. What do you think of the odds of this person being in close contact with the First Lady?

It was very good that a security person was near the Pope to tackle this lady so that she can’t do any harm and for that I am glad, but there is no intelligent reason why she should EVER be in St. Peter’s.

This can’t be stressed enough. Our Holy Father deserves intelligent security and in the news articles the real experts in security (not us) have said that the Pope’s security is bad.

 

[redrosetea]

Virtually anyone can get into a papal Mass: tickets are required but are easy to get if requested in advance. Identification cards are not necessary to gain entrance, although visitors must pass through a metal detector.

The Rev. 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 in which ‘zero risk’ cannot be achieved,” he said.

The Vatican’s security officials will nonetheless review the episode and “try to learn from experience,” Lombardi told The Associated Press.

It was the first time a potential attacker has come into direct contact with Benedict during his nearly five-year papacy. Security analysts have frequently warned the pope is too exposed in his public appearances, but Lombardi noted that they are a necessary part of the job.

apnews.myway.com/article/20091225/D9CQHJFO1.html