CBC News

Vatican, Jun 7: Security officers wrestled a man to the ground Wednesday after he tried to jump into Pope Benedict's popemobile during his general audience in St. Peter's Square.

The 80-year-old Pope was not hurt and, appearing not to notice the flurry of activity behind him, continued to wave to the crowd of about 35,000.

The man managed to get within one metre of the Pope, who seemed not to notice the commotion behind him.
(CBC) The man, clad in shorts and a pink T-shirt, jumped over the protective barricades lining the route, hurling himself toward the open-topped popemobile.

He managed to hang on to the back of the Jeep for several seconds before members of the Pope's security team wrestled him to the ground.

A Vatican spokesman identified the man as a 27-year-old German who showed signs of "mental imbalance."

"His aim was not an attempt on the Pope's life but to attract attention to himself," said Rev. Federico Lombardi