Vatican City:
A woman vaulted a barrier inside St. Peter's Basilica and knocked Pope Benedict XVI to the floor on Thursday as he arrived to celebrate Mass marking the beginning of Christmas.
Vatican official says woman who toppled pope same one as in 2008 Christmas Eve security breach. The woman was "apparently unbalanced," Father Federico Lombardi said.
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 several weeks ago. The German pope's spokesman Federico Lombardi said the change was "no cause for alarm," adding that the pontiff's condition was "absolutely normal" for a man of his age.
Lombardi said the earlier mass, which was to finish shortly after midnight instead of at 2:00 am, was planned "to make Christmas a little less tiring for the pope, who has many engagements during this time".
Benedict showed no discomfort as he read out his Christmas Eve homily, decrying selfishness, which he said "makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires that stand against the truth and separate us from one another.
Vatican official says woman who toppled pope same one as in 2008 Christmas Eve security breach. The woman was "apparently unbalanced," Father Federico Lombardi said.
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 several weeks ago. The German pope's spokesman Federico Lombardi said the change was "no cause for alarm," adding that the pontiff's condition was "absolutely normal" for a man of his age.
Lombardi said the earlier mass, which was to finish shortly after midnight instead of at 2:00 am, was planned "to make Christmas a little less tiring for the pope, who has many engagements during this time".
Benedict showed no discomfort as he read out his Christmas Eve homily, decrying selfishness, which he said "makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires that stand against the truth and separate us from one another.
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