Police guard woman who knocked down the pope
27 December 2009, 17:44
Rome - A Vatican court will judge the woman who launched a Christmas Eve assault on Pope Benedict XVI "within a few weeks", its president said on Sunday.
The woman, identified as 25-year-old Susanna Maiolo, jumped over a security barrier and knocked the pope to the ground at midnight mass in Saint Peter's Basilica.
She was taken for psychiatric treatment after the incident, and in an interview with Italian bishops' newspaper Avvenire, Vatican court president Giuseppe Dalla Torre said her mental state would be an important issue.
The pope came through the assault late on Thursday apparently unscathed and was able to celebrate the mass as planned.
Maiolo, who has Swiss and Italian nationality, tried to reach the pope in almost identical circumstances last year, but was stopped by security staff.
After questioning by Vatican police following the latest incident, she was taken to a psychiatric unit.
According to Italian press reports she told doctors she "did not want to hurt the pope, just ask him to help the weakest people".
"I wanted to ask the pope to think of the weakest, the fragile people, those who are dying of hunger and Aids in Africa. It was a call for help, a message from those who are suffering," she told doctors, according to Il Messagero newspaper.
Dalla Torre said he expected the court hearing to be quite straightforward.
"There is not a lot of investigation needed - we don't need help from overseas judicial authorities or witness statements," he said, adding a decision was expected "within a few weeks".
The court would first establish the nature of the offence, Dalla Torre said, then examine the details of what happened.
"The fact she was not armed could help to mitigate," the incident, he said.
Above all, Dalla Torre said, the court will want to establish to what extent Maiolo was mentally unbalanced.
If she is found not to have been responsible for her actions, "she will clearly not be put through a criminal trial" Dalla Torre said.
Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported that Maiolo, who has been treated for psychiatric problems for several years, added that she "just wanted a bit of attention" and told doctors she asked the pope's forgiveness.
The same newspaper said two policemen were guarding her room around the clock and her family had asked for her to be shielded from outside contact, fearing it might worsen her condition. - Sapa-AFP
The woman, identified as 25-year-old Susanna Maiolo, jumped over a security barrier and knocked the pope to the ground at midnight mass in Saint Peter's Basilica.
She was taken for psychiatric treatment after the incident, and in an interview with Italian bishops' newspaper Avvenire, Vatican court president Giuseppe Dalla Torre said her mental state would be an important issue.
The pope came through the assault late on Thursday apparently unscathed and was able to celebrate the mass as planned.
Maiolo, who has Swiss and Italian nationality, tried to reach the pope in almost identical circumstances last year, but was stopped by security staff.
After questioning by Vatican police following the latest incident, she was taken to a psychiatric unit.
According to Italian press reports she told doctors she "did not want to hurt the pope, just ask him to help the weakest people".
"I wanted to ask the pope to think of the weakest, the fragile people, those who are dying of hunger and Aids in Africa. It was a call for help, a message from those who are suffering," she told doctors, according to Il Messagero newspaper.
Dalla Torre said he expected the court hearing to be quite straightforward.
"There is not a lot of investigation needed - we don't need help from overseas judicial authorities or witness statements," he said, adding a decision was expected "within a few weeks".
The court would first establish the nature of the offence, Dalla Torre said, then examine the details of what happened.
"The fact she was not armed could help to mitigate," the incident, he said.
Above all, Dalla Torre said, the court will want to establish to what extent Maiolo was mentally unbalanced.
If she is found not to have been responsible for her actions, "she will clearly not be put through a criminal trial" Dalla Torre said.
Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported that Maiolo, who has been treated for psychiatric problems for several years, added that she "just wanted a bit of attention" and told doctors she asked the pope's forgiveness.
The same newspaper said two policemen were guarding her room around the clock and her family had asked for her to be shielded from outside contact, fearing it might worsen her condition. - Sapa-AFP
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