Police predicament: Teens, not terrorists, are biggest threat to pope

Published: 2005-01-14

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For the Italian police who help ensure the security of Pope John Paul II, terrorism is the biggest theoretical threat to the pope. However, in the pope's day-to-day life, teenage and young adult faithful are the biggest real threat, they said. The young people's devotion to the pope and their enthusiasm mean the police agents wage a constant battle against brave young souls willing to jump security barricades to touch the pope. Whether planning for hypothetical terrorists or hyperactive teenagers, police officials said, guaranteeing Pope John Paul's safety is an impossible mission. "Safeguarding the life of the pope is impossible, because it is impossible to surround him with the men and equipment that would guarantee his safety," said Enrico Marinelli, former director of the Italian police Inspectorate for Public Security at the Vatican. Marinelli spoke Jan. 12 during a conference launching a book about the Italian security agents, "The Pope's Guardian Angels," by Glauco Benigni. The Swiss Guards and members of the Vatican police force -- the pope's usual bodyguards -- did not cooperate in writing the book, which is available only in Italian.

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