Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss-Italian national with psychiatric problems, jumps over the barricade towards Pope Benedict XVI as he walks down the main aisle The Pope was knocked to the ground in a terrifying security scare just hours before his traditional Christmas Day message.
Susanna Maiolo, vaulted over security barriers and dived on top of 82-year-old Benedict XVI, dragging him to the floor.
Incredibly Maiolo, who is said to have a history of mental problems, was involved in a similar incident last Christmas Eve.
Pope Benedict XVI gestures to faithful during the 'Urbi et Orbi' (to the City and to the World) message in St. Peter's square at the Vatican todayMedical experts said the Pope was lucky not to have broken any bones in the fall inside St Peter's Basilica at the beginning of the Christmas Eve Mass. He lost his mitre and staff and remained on the ground for a few seconds before being helped up by attendants.
French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, also fell in the melee and was taken to hospital with a broken hip. He will be operated on in two or three days' time but is said to be in 'good spirits'.
Maiolo grabs Pope Benedict as a guard pulls her down as the pontiff walks down the main aisle in St. Peter's
Vatican security, at centre of the aisle dressed in black, make their way towards Pope Benedict after he was knocked down during Christmas Mass
Injured: French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray on a wheelchair is taken to hospital at the Vatican CityThe Pope appeared to suffer no ill effects from the assault, managing to get up and carry on with the service. He made no mention of it during the two-hour ceremony.
But although sources close to him said he had 'brushed off the incident', it will raise serious questions over security.
Maiolo, 25, had launched an attack on him at the end of Mass last Christmas Eve but was stopped before she could reach him.
Earlier this month Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi was left with a fractured nose, two broken teeth and severe cuts after being hit by a souvenir statue at the end of a political rally.
An unsteady Pope Benedict is helped to his seat during Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican last night
Flashpoint: She grabs hold of Pope Benedict XVI, circled, and drags him to the floor of the churchA senior Vatican source who was at the service and asked not to be named said: 'The fact this woman is known and was still able to get through security is very, very serious.
'All the people who were inside St Peter's had invitations and so would have had to be checked and give their names. This woman was able to get through these checks as well as the airport style metal detectors.
Pope Benedict delivers his blessing from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica before thousands of people
A Swiss Guard stands in front of the faithful as Pope Benedict XVI leads his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) Christmas Day message'The Pope's guards were able to drag her away but the sense of shock in the basilica was amazing - there was a huge gasp, no one could believe what was happening.'
The Vatican said it would review its security procedures but it was not realistic to ensure 100 per cent security because the Pope is regularly surrounded by thousands of people.
Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said: 'People want to see him up close, and he's pleased to see them closely too.
'There were 7,000 people there at the Mass and she could have got her ticket from anywhere. She is known to the Vatican but she was never thought to have been of any serious danger to the Holy Father.
'She was not armed and if anything the poor woman needs treatment, which is what she is getting.'
A 27-year-old German man (right) leaps over a barricade and tries to jump on to Pope Benedict XVI's open-topped Jeep last year
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray suffered a broken femur and will have to undergo surgeryAsked if any criminal action would be taken against Malolo, he said: ' I don't know but Vatican justice is always benevolent towards everyone'.
The most high profile attack on a Pope was in 1981, when Turkish hitman Ali Agca shot John Paul II as he drove through St Peter's Square.
He was quickly arrested and jailed but is due to be released from a Turkish prison next month. He says he plans to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of John Paul.
Pope Benedict is due to visit Britain next year and officials from the Vatican Gendarme, the security service, have already been in London for talks with Scotland Yard's diplomatic and anti-terrorism squads.
In his Christmas Day speech the Pontiff described the Church as 'a source of unity'. He smiled and waved to the crowd but appeared tired and leaned on an assistant at times.
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