Pope Francis regretted slapping a woman who had tried to grab him as he addressed a crowd of believers, soon before he gave a speech criticising “every form of brutality against women.”
The picture of a visibly annoyed Pope Francis slapping a woman while on he stepped on by Catholic faithful on New Year’s Eve immediately went viral on social media.
A personal apology by Pope goes as followed.
“We lose patience many times,” Francis declared.
Before celebrating mass at the Vatican city, Pope Francis declared, “It happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example given yesterday,”
Pope Francis kids before the Nativity scene on Saint Peter’s square and was rolling away when a lady who had crossed herself then groaned out something, pulled his hand and nearly made him fall.
The 83-year-old Pope grimaced and frowned before heading to break free, hitting her hand twice as a security guard intruded.
The pope continued his tour, cruising with some trouble while managing a slightly greater range from visitors, and slowly relaxed again as he met with other kids.
Twitter comments revealed some support for his instinctive reaction.
“I’m not a Catholic, but the woman did wrong. It even appeared as if the Pope experienced pain at one moment,” one comment read.
Others were less favourable to Pope, however.
“She was totally wrong, but his attitude was not very Pope like,” another stated.
In his first Mass of the New Year, the pontiff later reported that “every form of brutality against women is a curse upon God, who was born of a woman.”
The pontiff then recited “patience and love” in a remark that was not included in a text given to media before the time and which seemed to be his reaction to what had occurred the night before.
The Pope is known to enjoy greeting the public, and also has a reputation for speaking his mind and having a determined temperament.