[DieHard the Hunter]

Nevermind that he’s the Pope, and nevermind that he’s Catholic, or even a leader of an important country.

Benedict XVI is an elderly gentleman and falls of this nature could have serious consequences to his health. It would be a serious matter for this to happen to anybody his age. If he were to break a hip it might never heal properly — and that often happens when the elderly fall.

What a horrible thing to happen.

I hope everybody will join with me in prayer for the Holy Father and his continued good health. He didn’t deserve this, not on Christmas or any other day.

[Mrs. Don-o]

You're quite right, DieHard, older people find falls very scary, and with good reason. Mortality rates are disturbingly high for an elderly person in the year after a broken hip. This comes from a secondary series: broken hip --> impaired mobility --> compromised pulmonary activity --> pneumonia --> death. That's the most common event cascade.

On Google News I notice that most articles don't even mention Cardinal Roger Echeveria, 87, whose leg was broken. I will pray for Benedict, and for Roger, and for the female assailant who is evidentally mentally ill.