At the end of the general audience today, Pope Benedict met privately, for a brief time, with Susanna Maiolo and 2 members of her family. You’ll recall the unpleasant incident of Ms Maiolo taking down the pope and a cardinal. Ms. Maiolo expressed her regret for what happened at the celebration of the night Mass for Christmas at St Peter’s Basilica, and for his part, the Holy Father gave her his forgiveness and expressed good wishes.
In the confusion of the event, French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, who lives with frail health, fell to the basilica floor breaking a femur. He’s recovering at the Gemelli Hospital where he and the pope enjoyed a visit on January 9th.