Given what happened in St Peter's Basilica last night I have to ask: Were the members of the security contingent asleep on their feet? I have watched the video quite a few times now and I was astounded to see how long it took the security guard to tackle her and then she still manages, somehow, to evade his grasp and grab the Holy Father's vestments. Yes, it did happen quickly, but not so quickly, I feel, that they couldn't have prevented her from actually getting to the Holy Father. It is also alleged that it was exactly the same woman who jumped the barrier last year. If so, I find this extremely disturbing. One can only hope that, if this is true, that measures will be taken this time so that she does not get the opportunity to do something like this again.
It also disturbs me that some commentators seem to be at pains to somehow exonerate the woman saying that she meant no real harm and that such people seldom do. To me that is not the issue. It doesn't matter who she is or what her real intent was. The fact is that she got close enough to the Holy Father to do some serious damage.
Given that the Holy Father was pulled down so quickly and so violently we can only thank God that he did not sustain any serious injuries. It continues to be unclear as to how exactly poor Cardinal Etchegaray was knocked over and reports differ as to whether he has fractured his femur or his hip. At 87 this is not a joke and we can only pray that, God willing, he will make a full recovery. Let us pray too that this disturbed woman may also find some sort of peace and healing.
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