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Woman knocks pontiff down at Mass Woman knocks pontiff down at Mass
(about 3 hours later)
A shaken Pope Benedict has said Christmas Mass in St Peter's Basilica shortly after being knocked over by a spectator who jumped barriers. A shaken Pope Benedict has said Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's shortly after being knocked over by a spectator who jumped a barrier.
The woman, said to be mentally unstable, jumped security barriers as Benedict XVI entered the basilica for the traditional Christmas Eve service. The woman, said to be mentally unstable, managed to grab him by his vestments near the neck area as a security guard tried to overwhelm her.
Proceeding with the Mass, he looked shaken and stumbled over some words. French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, was standing a few metres away and fell and broke his leg during the incident.
The service started two hours early because officials do not want the 82-year-old pontiff to get tired. Proceeding with Mass, Benedict looked shaken and stumbled over some words.
Thousands of pilgrims also gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas Mass. All of a sudden this person sort of flew over the barricade MaryBeth Burns eyewitness
Latin Patriarch Foud Twal, the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, said the region's aspiration of peace remained out of reach. The service in the Vatican started two hours early because officials did not want the pontiff, 82, to get tired.
As members of the 1.1-billion Catholic community celebrated Christmas around the world, thousands of pilgrims gathered in Bethlehem where Latin Patriarch Foud Twal, the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, said the region's aspiration of peace remained out of reach.
"The wish that we most want, we most hope for, is not coming," he said after passing into Bethlehem in a traditional holiday procession from nearby Jerusalem."The wish that we most want, we most hope for, is not coming," he said after passing into Bethlehem in a traditional holiday procession from nearby Jerusalem.
"We want peace.""We want peace."
Woman arrestedWoman arrested
The security incident involving the woman at St Peter's Basilica lasted only a few seconds. The incident involving the Pope lasted only a few seconds and was caught on camera by at least one eyewitness.
The woman - who was reportedly wearing a red jumper - tried to jump the barrier and the Pope was thrown off balance and fell, prompting shocked gasps among the crowd. ANALYSIS David Willey, BBC News, Rome
Security officials rushed down the main aisle to detain the woman. The Pope will next year celebrate his 83rd birthday. He is in relatively good health for his age but he was clearly shaken by the incident and stumbled several times over words in his homily.
This was undoubtedly the most serious breach of security inside the Vatican in recent years.
Although the Pope was physically unharmed by this sudden attack, security arrangements at papal ceremonies will have to be urgently reviewed as there was apparently a similar, but unsuccessful, attempt to hurt the Pope last Christmas.
Dressed in a red hooded sweatshirt, the attacker leaped over the barrier towards the Pope, prompting gasps from the crowd.
"All of a sudden this person sort of flew over the barricade and the Holy Father went down and all of a sudden all the security people were all on top of it, you know the whole pile there, getting her off and pulling him back up," eyewitness MaryBeth Burns, a US tourist, told the Associated Press.
Security officials rushed down the main aisle to detain the woman, who was later arrested by police. Her name was not immediately known.
The Pope had to be helped up by the master of ceremonies at his side, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says.The Pope had to be helped up by the master of ceremonies at his side, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says.
The theme of his homily was selfishness which, he said, "makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires".The theme of his homily was selfishness which, he said, "makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires".
The woman who pushed the Pope also knocked down Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who was taken to hospital for a check-up, Vatican spokesman Ciro Bedettini said. The incident is the latest, and apparently the most serious, in a number of security scares involving Benedict:
The woman - whose name was not immediately known - was later arrested by police. • During last year's Christmas Mass, a woman also jumped a barrier and got close to the Pope but was quickly restrained by security officials
During last year's Mass, a woman also jumped the barriers and got close to the Pope but was quickly restrained by security officials. • In June 2007, a man tried to jump on to the "popemobile" carrying Benedict to his weekly address in St Peter's Square but was wrestled to the ground by security personnel
It was not immediately known if it was the same woman who pushed Benedict on Thursday.
The Vatican said earlier that the decision to move the midnight Mass to 2200 (2100 GMT) was "to make Christmas a little less tiring for the Pope, who has many engagements".The Vatican said earlier that the decision to move the midnight Mass to 2200 (2100 GMT) was "to make Christmas a little less tiring for the Pope, who has many engagements".
The pontiff earlier appeared briefly at nightfall at the window of his studio to light a candle in a sign of peace.The pontiff earlier appeared briefly at nightfall at the window of his studio to light a candle in a sign of peace.
Tourism boomTourism boom
In Bethlehem, festivities began with a traditional boy scout band and ended with midnight Mass in St Catherine's Church, next to the Church of the Nativity.In Bethlehem, festivities began with a traditional boy scout band and ended with midnight Mass in St Catherine's Church, next to the Church of the Nativity.
Patriarch arrives in BethlehemPatriarch arrives in Bethlehem
Arriving in Bethlehem, the Latin Patriarch said people in the region wanted freedom of movement.Arriving in Bethlehem, the Latin Patriarch said people in the region wanted freedom of movement.
"We don't want walls, we don't want separation fences.""We don't want walls, we don't want separation fences."
Addressing worshippers, he added: "[This land's] inhabitants are brothers who see each other as enemies.Addressing worshippers, he added: "[This land's] inhabitants are brothers who see each other as enemies.
"This land will deserve to be called holy when she breathes freedom, justice, love, reconciliation, peace and security.""This land will deserve to be called holy when she breathes freedom, justice, love, reconciliation, peace and security."
The Mass was said next to the church built over the stall where Mary is believed to have given birth to Jesus.The Mass was said next to the church built over the stall where Mary is believed to have given birth to Jesus.
Some 300 Christians over the age of 35 from the Gaza Strip were given permission by the Israeli military to leave the territory and come to Bethlehem for 24 hours to celebrate Christmas.Some 300 Christians over the age of 35 from the Gaza Strip were given permission by the Israeli military to leave the territory and come to Bethlehem for 24 hours to celebrate Christmas.
A total of 15,000 tourists are expected in the town during this period, in a year that has seen a record number of visitors - some 1.6 million.A total of 15,000 tourists are expected in the town during this period, in a year that has seen a record number of visitors - some 1.6 million.
One of the tourists who had crossed the planet to spend Christmas in Bethlehem was 27-year-old Juan Cruz, of Mexico.
"This is the place where God gave us his son, so it is very special for me to be here, for me and my whole community," he told AFP news agency.
Yet the tourism boom has failed to bring money with it as most of the tourists visit the town just for the day, staying in hotels in Israel.
"Only 5% of the money stays on the Palestinian side," Palestinian Tourism Minister Khulud Duaibess said.
Are you at the Pope's Christmas Mass? Did you see the woman jump over the barriers? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you at the Pope's Christmas Mass? Did you see the woman jump over the barriers? Send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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