Thoughts on The Assault of Pope Benedict XVI

Despite the fact that no harm came to Pope Benedict XVI during Christmas Mass, the attack on him is nonetheless disconcerting.

It is disconcerting because the attack happened only days after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was assaulted and injured seriously enough to require hospitalization.

It is also disconcerting because the woman who attacked the Pope was known to authorities and apparently tried to pull off an attack last year. If a young woman with a history of mental illness can breach Vatican security then imagine what an Islamic fundamentalist who knows how to set off an explosive could do.

The Pontiff has angered Muslims in the past and it wouldn't take very much for him to anger them again. If Islamic fundamentalists are prepared to launch an attack on the Pope at the Vatican (or abroad) I cannot say with any confidence if their level of readiness would be sufficient to prevent an act of terrorism.