A Vatican spokesman says a woman jumped the barriers in St. Peter's Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI

Views: 100

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Zensaber on December 25, 2009 at 2:08am
Now thats a christmas gift for the masses.
Comment by truth on December 24, 2009 at 5:50pm
Woman knocks pontiff down at Mass

Pope is celebrating the traditional Christmas Mass, despite being knocked down by a woman at the start of the service in St Peter's Basilica.

The woman - who is said to be mentally unstable - jumped the security barriers as Benedict XVI entered the basilica, causing the pontiff to fall.

The Pope appeared to be unhurt and recovered to lead the mass.

The midnight service started two hours early because officials do not want the 82-year-old pontiff to get tired.

Thousands of pilgrims have also gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas mass.

Woman arrested

The security incident involving the woman at St Peter's Basilica lasted only a few seconds.

The Pope had to be helped up by the master of ceremonies at his side, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says.

However, he quickly recovered his poise and passed into the basilica preceded by senior Vatican cardinals, our correspondent says.

Benedict then delivered the Christmas homily in a firm voice.

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 woman - whose name was not immediately known - was later arrested by police.

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".

Pope Benedict XVI earlier appeared briefly at nightfall at the window of his studio to light a candle in a sign of peace.

Tourism boom

In Bethlehem, festivities began with a traditional boy scout band and were due to end with a midnight mass in St Catherine's Church, next to the Church of the Nativity.

The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land led the annual procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.

Latin Patriarch Foud Twal said the region sought peace above all else.

"The wish that we most want, we most hope for, is not coming. We want peace," he said after he and his convoy of cars entered the Palestinian territory, having passed through Israel's heavily-guarded separation barrier.

"We want freedom of movement, we don't want walls. We don't want separation fences," he added.

In Bethlehem, the midnight mass is taking place next to the church built over the stall where Mary is said 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.

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.
--

Woman causes pope to fall at start of Christmas mass

(AFP) – 51 minutes ago

VATICAN CITY — A woman pushing against a barrier caused Pope Benedict XVI to fall on Thursday as he entered St Peter's Basilica to celebrate Christmas mass, the Vatican spokesman said.

The woman was "apparently unbalanced," Father Federico Lombardi told AFP.

The 82-year-old pontiff quickly recovered and went on to conduct the mass without assistance, but French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray fell ill in the crush and was given first aid, Lombardi said.

In gold and white vestments and mitre, the pope bore a gold cross in a solemn procession to the altar as the mass began two hours early, at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT) instead of the traditional midnight hour due to his advanced age.

The decision, a Vatican first, was taken se

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis posted a video

Charlie Kirk: Grief And Outrage From Turning Point USA in Phoenix

We went to Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix to talk with people who were there to pay their respects.►Join my community to get exclus...
29 minutes ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
59 minutes ago
Burbia commented on Doc Vega's blog post This Memorable Anthem Given by Nick Freitas Hit the Nail on the Head Please Listen!
6 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
"cheeki kea, Yes that was released on to book sites 19 hours before the tragic event and also there…"
yesterday
Burbia commented on Sandy's video
yesterday
Sandy posted a video

Charlie Kirk Was Terrified Of Israel

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
yesterday
Sandy posted a photo
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
"The internet is fractioned that's for sure but it never sleeps and the big question of the day…"
yesterday
Burbia commented on Doc Vega's blog post A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
"It seems America has many meanings to many people. The internet has fractioned everybody. I had…"
Thursday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"Cheeki kea I'm glad that the giant Moa downsized to this turkey looking land walker.!"
Thursday
Burbia commented on Burbia's blog post Charlie Kirk Assaination
"I don't know what difference if any that he was also a member of Council for National Policy.…"
Thursday
Doc Vega commented on Burbia's blog post Charlie Kirk Assaination
"I remember when they found out that the united Council of Churches worldwide had been funding…"
Thursday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left

 Political violence and death has been perpetrated for a long time now in America. The Democrats…See More
Thursday
Burbia posted a blog post

Charlie Kirk Assaination

September 10th 2025 in Utah Turning Point USA CEO has been assassinated. Coincidentally,  answering…See More
Thursday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Bow to Your New Masters

 Dr. Jerome Corsi reports that the discovery of a new wireless system that can corrupt any…See More
Tuesday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"Wow I never knew penguins got down sized also over time. I knew of the Moa which is really now a…"
Tuesday
Sandy posted a video

Civalyze meme

meme ad for a fake drug that would do away with black fatiguecivilyze you're not racist your just exhausted
Monday
Burbia posted a blog post

Is the Timing of Alex Jones and Charlie Sheen Connected?

Alex Jones is sperging out.Charlie Sheen is coming out of the closet.Is this why Alex Jones is…See More
Sep 6
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Buying the Last haunted House on the Left (A partial autobiography)

Note to the reader, there are events here that are true and some that are fictional.Chapter IIt was…See More
Sep 5

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted