<p>The Vatican said the Pope's private secretary, Georg Gaenswein, had visited the woman over the past few days in order to express "the Holy Father's interest in her well-being."<br />According to the Sunday issue of Il Giornale newspaper, Gaenswein's visit came on Dec 31 at which he also expressed Benedict's "forgiveness" to the 25-year-old.<br /><br />In the incident, the Italo-Swiss woman jumped over a barrier and threw herself at the 82-year-old pontiff in St Peter's Church as he was leading the Mass procession on Christmas eve, knocking him down.<br /><br />Afterwards, the woman was taken to a clinic, where she has been kept ever since.<br />Italian media were speculating that the woman, who was not carrying a weapon and was suffering from psychological problems, could be released.<br /><br />If she did appear before a Vatican court and sentenced, she could expect to serve any jail term in Italy or Switzerland. But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi a few days ago commented that "The Holy See's justice is usually benevolent."<br /></p>
<p>The Vatican said the Pope's private secretary, Georg Gaenswein, had visited the woman over the past few days in order to express "the Holy Father's interest in her well-being."<br />According to the Sunday issue of Il Giornale newspaper, Gaenswein's visit came on Dec 31 at which he also expressed Benedict's "forgiveness" to the 25-year-old.<br /><br />In the incident, the Italo-Swiss woman jumped over a barrier and threw herself at the 82-year-old pontiff in St Peter's Church as he was leading the Mass procession on Christmas eve, knocking him down.<br /><br />Afterwards, the woman was taken to a clinic, where she has been kept ever since.<br />Italian media were speculating that the woman, who was not carrying a weapon and was suffering from psychological problems, could be released.<br /><br />If she did appear before a Vatican court and sentenced, she could expect to serve any jail term in Italy or Switzerland. But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi a few days ago commented that "The Holy See's justice is usually benevolent."<br /></p>