The dilemma for the men in charge of the Pope’s security is how to protect him – and let him get close to his flock. In 1981, the vulnerability of the pontiff was brought into sharp relief, when the Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca shot and wounded John Paul II as he mingled with the faithful in St Peter’s Square, in Rome.
And although that assassination attempt led to an increase in security, if the Pope is to remain a public figure it can never be watertight.
Critics – especially militant secularists – have criticised the £3.3million cost of security for his UK visit. But yesterday’s alleged plot was a reminder of why it is needed.
Following a 2006 speech interpreted as an attack on Muslims, militant Islamists launched a series of threats against the Pope.
He had quoted a 14th-century Christian emperor of Constantinople who said the Prophet Mohammed had introduced things that were ‘evil and inhuman’.
Afterwards, Osama Bin Laden accused the Pontiff of ‘leading a crusade against Islam’.
Last year, a review of security was ordered after the Pope was knocked to the ground just hours before his traditional Christmas Day message.
A woman called Susanna Maiolo, who had a history of mental problems, vaulted over security barriers and dived on top of the 83-year-old as he entered St Peter’s to conduct Midnight Mass.
However, she was grabbed and pulled to the floor by Inspector General Domenico Giani, the head of Vatican security.
Known as the Pope’s guardian angel, the 48-year-old father of two has led a £10million upgrade of the160-strong Vatican security force.
It has extensive intelligence gathering capability, access to Interpol databases, a Papal armed forces special response team and an anti-bomb squad.
Dr Giani is also the Pope’s body-guard, and is rarely more than a few feet from his side.
He is usually seen running alongside the Popemobile – one of two £75,000 Mercedes M-Class SUVs brought to Britain.
The vehicles are armour plated and have four bulletproof glass screens.
The Pontiff also has a personal protection unit, who wear black Italian suits, white shirts and black ties, and carry short-wave radios.
Normally they carry Swiss-made Sig Sauer automatic pistols but they have been banned from carrying guns in Britain.
However, one guard was spotted on the Pope’s plane armed with a 6in knife with a handle, designed for close combat.
CCTV cameras have also been rigged up on security vehicles following the pontiff to record crowd movements and the faces of those clamouring to see him.
Footage is broadcast to a central control point where computerised facial recognition techniques are employed to identify any possible threat.
SIC: DM/UK