Pope attacker has Facebook fans

A Facebook fan page created for the woman accused of attacking Pope Benedict XVI has caused outrage in Italy. The page has been set up in honour of Susanna Maiolo, a 25-year-old Italian-Swiss woman, accused of leaping over security barriers at a Christmas Eve service at the Vatican and knocking over the pope. The Vatican has said the woman has mental health problems. Most of the comments on the page are sarcastic. One says she should get “the Olympic hurdles gold medal”. Gianfranco Rotondi, government action minister in the conservative government of Silvio Berlusconi, called the page “stupid” and “cowardly” and said it should be condemned and taken down. Antonio Gentile, a senator for Berlusconi’s ruling party, said the page “confirms the need for legislative action”. He added, “a social network cannot be place that celebrates violence”.