Pope Benedict held a private meeting today with the woman who knocked him to the ground on Christmas Eve and told her he had forgiven her, the Vatican said.

Susanna Maiolo, 25, an Italian-Swiss dual national, shocked the Catholic world and Vatican security when she jumped over a barricade, lunged at the pope and knocked him to the floor as he was about to celebrate Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican later said she was "psychologically unstable".

Maiolo, accompanied by two relatives, expressed her regret over the incident at the brief meeting with the pope, who also "expressed his interest and best wishes" for her health.

A judicial case opened against her by Vatican authorities, however, will continue its course, the Vatican said.

The video shows the incident on Christmas Eve.

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