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Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd as he arrives in his popemobile to celebrate Mass at Berlin's Olympic Stadium Sept. 22. The Vatican said the Pope greeted with a smile the news that a German citizen had filed a complaint against him for not wearing a seat belt in his popemobile during his visit to his homeland.
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd as he arrives in his popemobile to celebrate Mass at Berlin's Olympic Stadium Sept. 22. The Vatican said the Pope greeted with a smile the news that a German citizen had filed a complaint against him for not wearing a seat belt in his popemobile during his visit to his homeland. CNS photo/Fabian Bimmer, Reuters

Vatican says seat-belt complaint drew papal smile

By  John Thavis, Catholic News Service
  • November 30, 2011

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI greeted with a smile the news that a German citizen had filed a complaint against him for not wearing a seat belt in his popemobile.

The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said Nov. 30 that the complaint was not being taken seriously at the Vatican.

"It continues to provoke curiosity and smiles of amusements, beginning with the Pope himself," Father Lombardi said.

Father Lombardi said it was well known that the popemobile does not travel long distances, moves at a very slow speed and doesn't generally run the risk of encountering other vehicles in its path.

"The Pope turns continually to the right and to the left to greet and bless the faithful. Often he gets up and takes in his arms babies to bless, to the joy of the parents and everyone present. All these gestures presume a certain freedom of movement," the spokesman said.

Father Lombardi added that the Vatican was "grateful for the affectionate concern for the Pope's safety," but added that the complaint did not seem to reflect much flexibility in interpreting the meaning of the law.

German news reports said the complaint against the Pope was filed in the city of Dortmund following Pope Benedict's September visit to his homeland. The pope traveled frequently in his popemobile during stops in Berlin, Erfurt, Etzelsbach and Freiburg.

The complaint said that on all these occasions the Pope had failed to use the seat belt as required by German law and that, as a repeat  offender, he should be fined the maximum of 2,500 euros ($3,400). According to the German reports, the lawyer who filed the complaint said his client was primarily concerned about the safety of the 84-year-old Pope.

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