A man tried to jump into Pope Benedict XVI's uncovered popemobile as the pontiff began his general audience Wednesday in St. Peter's Square and was wrestled to the ground by security officers.The assailant "was wearing a pink T-shirt and dark shorts, a beige baseball cap and sunglasses." That says a lot.
The pope was not hurt and didn't even appear to notice that the man had jumped over the protective barricade in the square and toward the white popemobile as it drove by with the pope waving to the audience.
At least eight security officers who were trailing the popemobile grabbed the man and wrestled him to the ground. The pope didn't even look back.
June 6, 2007
Macho Pope.
This just happened:
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The assailant "was wearing a pink T-shirt and dark shorts, a beige baseball cap and sunglasses."
That alone justifies a beating by the Swiss Guard at the very least.
I bet it was the shorts that gave him away too.
Macho or oblivious?
"...pink T-shirt and dark shorts, a beige baseball cap and sunglasses"
Was it Cindy Sheehan?
I would say unaware not oblivious since oblivious seems to have a negative connotation. He and the guards in front did not see nor hear the ruckus behind him as they were concentrating on what was in front of them.
I keep hearing that the guy "got through" security though, which isn't true. He was stopped by security when he made his move and absent some mind-reading machine he couldn't have been stopped prior to that point.
Man... and I thought it was only our last Pope that got the Beatles treatment in public!
(I can say "our". I'm Catholic)
I was not aware there was such a thing as a "popemobile". How cool!It is an actual vehicle designed for or by the pope? Or, is it just any old automobile the pontiff happens to be cruising in?
Yeah, when an 80-year-old man doesn't notice something, "macho" is the first word I think of, too.
I think it's macho -- or at least fearless -- to go about in the uncovered Popemobile. He does have 80 body guards.
I think it's macho -- or at least fearless -- to go about in the uncovered Popemobile.
Not only does Pope Benedict ride in an uncovered vehicle, but he sits in an exposed chair in the middle of an open-air stage for the General Audiences in St. Peter's Square. You do need to go through metal detectors to get to the seated area, but that only takes up a portion of the Square (the area in front of the steps to the Basilica). Anyone who is of a mind to could easily use a rifle merely 200 yards away. But Benedict is not worried. If he was to be shot, so be it. He wouldn't be the first pope martyred on that ground.
That's right, zzRon, there is a vehicle called the popemobile. There is also a vehicle called the davemobile, it is full of dents and rust, has four flat tires, and the engine block is cracked.
The assailant "was wearing a pink T-shirt and dark shorts, a beige baseball cap and sunglasses."
I blame the Second Vatican Council.
Under Pius XII the man would never have been allowed into Vatican City let alone Saint Peter's Square.
The day I graduated from college was the day that Pope John Paul II was shot in Vatican City. I think that after that, they designed the Popemobile to keep J2P2, and all subsequent Popes, safe from attack. There doesn't seem to be too much to say about today's story, but I heartily endorse any use of the hilarious word "Popemobile" in the media.
What they never show you is how he slides down the Popepole into the Popecave before roaring off in his Popemobile. Now that I'd love to see.
The assailant "was wearing a pink T-shirt and dark shorts, a beige baseball cap and sunglasses." That says a lot.
Yes. The shoes would have said more but they were blurred. They looked like Nike™ sort of things with white socks, so the entire profane outfit from cap to shoe was offensive enough to get jumped by bodyguards.
However,
a Swiss guard was in front of the Pope mobile looking back. He stood there frozen while the other bodyguards pounced. I realize they're only kids and it's mostly ceremonial, but, sheesh. I don't care who designed those uniforms, and it's wrong to blame Michelangelo for it, he was the silliest dressed person in sight.
I see you have this tagged (among other things) as "fashion" and "crime", but given the outfit, shouldn't there also be a "fashion crime" tag as well?
*snort* What Drew W said. I'm still chuckling. lol
But (not to make too lightly of it) I am glad our beloved Pope was unfazed the ruckus and not hurt. He seems to have handled it beatifically. :)
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