Vatican reviews security after Pope knocked down at Midnight Mass

'A zero risk doesn't seem realistic in a situation in which there's a direct rapport with the people.'

ROME (UK Catholic Herald) - The Vatican is reassessing its security arrangements after a woman dragged Pope Benedict XVI to the ground as he processed into St Peter's Basilica to celebrate Midnight Mass.

But Fr Federico Lombardi SJ, the Vatican spokesman, said it was impossible to guarantee the Pontiff's safety completely and that security guards had reacted as quickly as possible to the incident.

"It seems that they intervened at the earliest possible moment in a situation in which zero risk cannot be achieved," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"People want to see him up close and he's pleased to see them closely too. A zero risk doesn't seem realistic in a situation in which there's a direct rapport with the people."

It was initially reported that the woman, Suzanna Maiolo, had tried to assault the Pope.

But the 25-year-old, who holds dual Swiss and Italian nationality, told doctors she had not wanted to hurt the pontiff, La Repubblica reported.

The paper also quoted Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, president of the Italian bishops' conference, as saying: "Nothing serious happened. It was a woman who tried to greet the Holy Father."

The Pope was not injured, but the elderly French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray suffered a broken hip.

Miss Maiolo, who also lunged at the Pope at Midnight Mass last year, is receiving psychiatric treatment following her arrest and questioning.

The Pope celebrated Midnight Mass undeterred and delivered his homily in a strong, clear voice.

He said: "God's sign is that he makes himself small; he becomes a child; he lets us touch him and he asks for our love. How we would prefer a different sign, an imposing, irresistible sign of God's power and greatness! But his sign summons us to faith and love, and thus it gives us hope: this is what God is like. He has power, he is Goodness itself."

And in his traditional urbi et orbi blessing yesterday, he appealed for an end to war.

Conflicts and "lack of reconciliation in the world stem from the fact that we are locked into our own interests and opinions, into our little private world," he said.