Speeding nun 'on Pope mercy dash'

MERCY DASH: A nun caught driving a speeding car told police she was rushing to the aid of the Pope, who had broken his wrist while on holiday.

Relevant offers

Italian traffic police got an unholy surprise when they pulled over a driver clocked at 180km/h - it was a 56-year-old nun claiming to be on a mercy dash to the Pope.

The speeding nun, who was accompanied by two fellow Salesian nuns aged 65 and 78-years-old, reportedly told police they were rushing to Pope Benedict's side out of concern for his broken wrist.

The Vatican had recently gone public with news the Pontiff had fallen in the bathroom during his summer holiday.

The nuns' Ford Fiesta was caught travelling at nearly 50 km/h over the speed limit when it was pulled it over on Friday, the Guardian reported.

"But we were afraid of getting there late. I know you shouldn't go so fast, but the news of his Holiness's injury had made us truly anxious, " the report quoted the speeding nun as saying.

Despite the urgency of the mission, the police chose not to overlook the traffic infringement, suspending the nun's licence for a month and issuing a NZ$806 fine.

However, she was a "determined sort" who would contest the penalty, her lawyer told the Guardian.

"She is planning to appeal and we think we can invoke the 'state of necessity' in the law that allows speeding," Anna Orecchioni said.

Orecchioni has successfully defended a Muslim imam in Rome after convincing a judge that asthma medicine doubled his blood alcohol reading.

Also on her books is a priest who claims communion wine consumed at four consecutive masses pushed him over the legal limit.

After surgery on his damaged wrist, the pope delivered a blessing on Sunday, with his right forearm in plaster.

- smh.com.au

Newest First

Oldest First

paul   #3   01:42 pm Jul 22 2009

Perhaps the wrist injury is God's way of saying "stop that or you will go blind."

Stef   #2   05:32 pm Jul 21 2009

*snickers* I don't think one can actually claim "necessity" for rushing to the aid of a broken wrist...

victoria   #1   04:37 pm Jul 21 2009

OH MY ...!!!

Ad Feedback