Aide visits woman who attacked the Pope

The Pope asked his secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, to call on 25-year-old Susanna Maiolo "to show his interest and benevolence," said the Rev Federico Lombardi.

Mr Lombardi declined to comment on an Italian newspaper report yesterday that the aide told the woman the Pope had forgiven her and gave her a rosary during the December 26 visit.

The visit to the psychiatric clinic in the town of Subiaco near Rome had been made discreetly, and the Vatican hadn't planned on publicly talking about it until the newspaper report appeared, Mr Lombardi indicated.

The spokesman said he didn't want to comment on what might have been said between the papal aide and the Italian-Swiss woman. "Every Christian pardons," said Mr Lombardi.

Vatican City's magistrates are conducting their own investigation of the December 24 incident. He said it was still to be determined if the woman, with a history of psychiatric problems, could be held legally responsible for what she did.

After scrambling over the barrier separating thousands of faithful from the procession up the basilica's centre aisle, Maiolo yanked Pope Benedict's vestments, pulling him down as he walked to celebrate Mass.

The 82-year-old Pope, although looking shaken, was physically unharmed and continued on to the central altar to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass. In the commotion, an elderly French cardinal also fell, breaking his hip.

Exactly a year ago, Maiolo, wearing the same red, hooded sweatshirt, also tried to reach the Pope during the Christmas Eve service, but was quietly tackled by security.