Pope attacked while holding midnight mass

[Lars77]

Source: BBC News

The Pope is celebrating the traditional Christmas Eve Mass, despite being knocked down by a woman at the start of the service in St Peter's Basilica.

The woman - who is believed to be mentally unstable - jumped the security barriers as the Pope entered the basilica, causing the pontiff to fall.

The Pope appeared to be unhurt and recovered to lead the mass.

The midnight service started two hours early because officials do not want the 82-year-old pontiff to get tired.

The Vatican spokesman said the decision to move the midnight Mass to 2200 (2100 GMT) was "to make Christmas a little less tiring for the Pope, who has many engagements".

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8430118.stm

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You'd think that a divine person who is God's representative on earth would be able to stay awake until midnight.

[Bicoastal]

1. Yikes...

[hlthe2b]

2. 'Glad he wasn't hurt...

That said... it seems like it might be time to consider a younger, healthier, and more vibrant person(and less close-minded)the next time a Pope is chosen... One that would not have such trouble staying up to midnight once or at most, a few times, each year. :shrug:


I love the traditions of Catholicism. I like and respect practicing Catholics. I don't think much of this particular Pope, but I certainly wish him no harm...

[KDLarsen]

8. There were some rumors going around after he was chosen

The theory was, that since Pope John Paul II's Papacy had been such a massive presence, both in terms of influecen and length, they had to chose a sort of temporary Pope, one that wouldn't last long, but could act as a sort of a divider between two (hopefully) massive Papacies (I think that's the word).

[jonmiller74]

3. looking at it another way...

"You'd think that a divine person who is God's representative on earth would be able to stay awake until midnight."

Lars, The midnight mass traditionally started at midnight. Meaning, if it's a two hour service, the pope would be awake until at least 2:30am or 3:00am. I'm not catholic but I believe in at least showing respect for someone considered by a large number of people to be God representative on Earth.

Let's hope he is alright.

And to everyone else Happy Holidays.

[Lars77]

15. Respect?

Maybe she was a victim of sexual abuse? Ofcourse, Catholic priests do seem to like boys more.

[emilyg]

17. Give it a rest. It's Xmas.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Fortunately she wasn't wielding

a small but life size statue of that little prick Berlusconi.

[CountAllVotes]

5. as a Catholic I hate reading these sorts of things

Midnight mass is one of the rites of the Church. For many Catholics, Christmas doesn't become Christmas until Midnight Mass has been said.

Merry Christmas to all out there, Catholic and non-Catholics. :D

Glad you are ok pope Ratzinger!

:dem:

[WinterParkDonkey]

9. Remember that.....

John Paul II was nearly killed so security at the Vatican is a lot more involved than it used to be.

[Fearless]

6. Talk about a real snooze of a news story.

:rofl:

[Auggie]

7. Anyone know where Palin is?

[Turbineguy]

10. You know, it seems a guy

like that could stay up for two hours to celebrate the birthday of the Main Dude of the Christian world.

[rpannier]

12. He's 82

The Mass goes for about 2 hours.
Then he'd have to get ready for bed.
This would probably the time at around 3 am

I have no idea how old you are, but 2:00 am was way too late/early for my grandfather when he was that age

[Turbineguy]

13. Fair enough.

I'm almost 59. I don't know if I'll make 82 and if I do, I don't know what shape I'll be in.

[Common Sense Party]

26. He's 82 and he's had a couple strokes.

I'd say 10:00 p.m. Mass is still doing pretty well.

Most 82-year olds I know hit the early dinner special at the Village Inn around 4:00 and are in bed by 6:00.

[tammywammy]

27. My grandfather's 88 (89 next month)

for as long as I can remember he's always gone to bed at 9pm. :)

[Common Sense Party]

28. Before the evening news?!!?

How does he know what's going on in the world?

All right, 6:00 p.m. was a bit of an exagerration. But it is true that they like to eat dinner at 4:00 at Village Inn, Denny's, etc.

[tammywammy]

29. LOL!

He'll watch the 6pm news or not at all. I think he's at the point that it doesn't matter much. When I'm visiting him we do tend to go to supper around 5 or 6pm, lunch at 11am (which is fine with me, I like a slightly earlier lunch anyways). He likes buffets, I mean I think almost every place we go to supper or lunch at is a buffet, maybe 10% of the time is a menu place.

[TlalocW]

11. When are they finally going to just arrest...

Tonya Harding and throw away the key? This is getting ridiculous.

TlalocW

[hedgehog]

14. As the Roman Catholic clergy ages, midnight Mass is creeping forward.

No one should complain, since most Catholics in the US hit the "children's" Mass held anywhere from about 4 to about 6.

There is also a second Mass generally around 7.

The Midnight Mass tends to be for families with older children and draws the college crowd.

[Grassy Knoll]

16. " I told you to keep your wife away from me..WTF.... "

[Regret My New Name]

18. I read the headline as: "Pope attacked while holding a midget's ass"

I must have a weird porn fetish on my mind tonight.

[Sultana]

24. LOL

:rofl:

[IndianaGreen]

19. 'A woman!' the Pope shouted in horror

Nazi pig!

[UTUSN]

22. Bwah-HAH !1 You got my concurrence !1 n/t

[Obamanaut]

20. More responses here on earlier thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7317512

[CreekDog]

21. Alerted on the move from LBN to GD

.

[Sultana]

23. Pope stan

[Divine Discontent]

25. how tacky.... why didn't they just have him sleep a bit then wake him an hour before the event?

silly.

sorry to hear about his being knocked down, but it made me wonder, what the Catholic Church did to her... I doubt she was just 'crazy'