Anġelik Caruana, the Birżebbuġa man who claims
to have visions of the Virgin Mary, Wednesday caused a stir at the
Vatican when he and another Maltese man left their chairs and shouted to
the Pope during a general audience.
Italian news agency Ansa reported the two tried to jump over the
barriers to get to the Pope during the weekly Wednesday audience but
were stopped by security personnel.
It could not be confirmed what the two were after, however, it is
understood such behaviour by people present for the general audience is
not unusual.
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said “there were two people
who raised their voice and wanted to give a letter to the Pope
containing devotional messages. That’s all”.
He said that after being questioned by the gendarmerie, the two were
allowed to remain for the audience as they were “good people” and were
“no threat” to the Pontiff.
“People close to the barriers at times get on the chair so they
appear taller but this doesn’t mean they want to jump over,” Fr Lombardi
said.
Worse things have happened to this Pope.
In 2009, Pope Benedict was
pulled down to the ground by a woman who jumped over the barrier during
Christmas Eve Mass, with French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, falling
and breaking his leg in the incident.
According to a spokesman for the group that gathers at Borġ in-Nadur,
where the visions are reported to happen, Mr Caruana did not try to
jump over the barrier but stood up and called out to the Holy Father
“Santità!” and waved a sealed letter he wanted to give to the Holy
Father.
Mr Caruana claims also to receive messages from Our Lady, which are then published on the group’s website www.borgin-nadur.org.
Fr Lombardi confirmed the letter Mr Caruana was holding, which will
be “examined with due respect”, contained devotional material.
The Maltese Church has yet to take a stand on the reported visions
and messages.
Fr Lombardi said such matters were not usually decided by
the Vatican and depended on the local bishop for approval.
SIC: TOM/INT'L