France, December 27: A Vatican court will judge the woman who launched a Christmas Eve assault on Pope Benedict XVI “within a few weeks”, its president says.
The 25-year-old woman identified as Susanna Maiolo leapt 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 will be an important issue.
The Pope came through the assault apparently unscathed and was able to celebrate the mass as planned.
French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, injured in the incident, meanwhile underwent successful surgery on Sunday to repair his right hip and is in good condition in hospital, the Vatican said in a statement.
Etchegaray, 87, who was close to the Pope in the procession, apparently lost his balance in the incident and fell, breaking the hip bone.
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.
Following the assault, the Pope’s routine was apparently unchanged despite heightened concern for his safety.
On Sunday, he took to the streets of Rome and was shaking hands with children during a visit to a homeless centre.
There was no evidence of beefed-up security.
Dalla Torre said he expects the court hearing to be quite straightforward.
—Agencies