Pope meets his attacker

The Pope has met and forgiven the mentally disturbed woman who attacked him during Christmas Eve Mass.

The Vatican said he met Susanna Maiolo and her relatives at the end of his general audience today.

Maiolo told the pontiff she was sorry. He inquired about her health and “wanted to demonstrate his forgiveness”.

Maiolo jumped a security barrier in St Peter’s Basilica at the start of Christmas Eve Mass and pulled the Pope down when a security guard tackled her. The pontiff was unhurt, and continued with Mass.