Pope Francis apologizes for slapping hand of woman who grabbed him in St. Peter's Square

Pope Francis apologized on Wednesday for being abrupt the previous day with a well-wisher in St. Peter's Square after he had to pull himself away from a woman in the crowd after she grabbed his hand and yanked him towards her.

Cameras captured the scene as Francis reacted sharply, exclaimed something and then slapped her hand so she would let him go. Frowning in anger, he turned and strode away.

In his new year’s wishes to the public in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Francis confessed to losing his patience and apologized.


#GlobalNews

[NedWasHere]

OK but you still need to not dislocate the Pope’s arm.

[leahrachael]

I am not Catholic. She was wrong to grab and pull him. It looked kind of like assault.

[kriskris]

Shame on Pope.

Look at Pope face
fill of hatred and contempt.

[HJZ-xknh]

OMG! His expression was almost evil after that slap. I hope she learnt never to idolize or worship another human being.

[tehmujin]

This woman should have waken up from this fairy tale by now

[irine]

If pope was REAL man of a GOD, he would speak to this woman right away and address her behavior and his actions in that moment.
If pope was REAL man of a God, he wouldn't read his "apologie" from the paper (written by his staff), it should be spoken SINCERELY

[johnclarke]

You don`t grab Anyone, that is aggressive behavior.

[thegreathawk]

I don't know man, I expect more from the *_POPE_* than to act like that

[MMonika]

I CANT EVEN IMAGINE HOW MUCH HATE WOULD PETER HAVE GOTTEN FOR DENYING JESUS IF INTERNET HAD BEEN AVAILABLE 2000+ YRS AGO!!! Who Said Popes Are Perfect?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

[arianaa]

She grabbed his hand out of excessive love and respect. As a religious leader, i didn't expect him to do like that. Patience and kindness is all about these sudden moments. What a sad world 😔

[beenabijoy]

No need to apologize. That woman deserved a slap on the face for yanking an old man like that.

[kenichimendoza]

I didn't feel any sincerity from his apology.

[kokobean]

First people say, “Poor Pope, he’s old. Bad woman” Now people are saying, “Bad Pope, poor lady. No sincerity.”
People are unbelievable these days.

[Shiraz]

I felt sorry for the woman who grabbed Pop's hand.

[canadiansurvivalist]

Hitting a lady is never right your world is sick

[deltadawn]

*MY LORD AND MY GOD LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF THE DECIEVED PEOPLE IN THAT CROWD, FATHER PLZ OPEN THERE EYES IN JESUS NAME AMEN*

[kisunamayan]

not all but some chinese tourist here in japan is so rude...talking so loud in restaurant, street, loitering and talking using smart phone inside the train

[Scarlet_Lunacy]

Why did you have to apologize?
That woman Violently grabbed his hand. What is the bodyguards doing at that moment?

[sahildixit]

*Mr pope should learn from Dalai Lama that how to stay calm* 😂😂

[tequila]

Even though the woman should not have grabbed pope francis the way she did, and even though Pope Francis apologized for his behavior, a pope.... acting that way tells more about who he really is... I am catholic and I do not support this Pope.... he is confusing people...