Pope apologises for 'bad example' of slapping arm of pilgrim who tugged him

By Crispian Balmer

 

Pope Francis leads a Mass marking the World Day of Peace in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, January 1, 2020. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

 

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis apologised on Wednesday for having angrily slapped a woman's arm when she had grabbed hold of his hand and yanked him towards her, saying he had lost his patience and set a "bad example".

 

His unusual apology came after he used his first homily of the new year to denounce violence against women, which he compared to profaning God.

Pope Francis, 83, had a sharp encounter with a woman on Tuesday evening during a walkabout in St. Peters Square.

 

The pilgrim, who has not been identified, unexpectedly seized his hand and pulled him towards her, causing him evident alarm. A clearly disgruntled Francis wrenched himself free by slapping down at her arm.

 

"So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologise for yesterday's bad example," the pope told thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday at the end of the traditional New Year Mass.

 

Pope Francis apologized on Wednesday for having slapped a woman’s hand on New Year's Eve when she grabbed and yanked him towards her, telling thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the first day of the year that he had lost his patience. Chris Dignam has more.

 

He had used the service to issue a forthright condemnation of the abuse of women in modern society.

 

"All violence inflicted on women is a desecration of God," he told a packed St. Peter's Basilica.

 

"How often is a woman's body sacrificed on the profane altar of advertising, profit, pornography," he said, adding that the female body "must be freed from consumerism, it must be respected and honoured".

 

Despite creating life, women "are continually offended, beaten, raped, forced into prostitution" and made to have abortions, he said. "We can understand our level of humanity by the way we treat a woman's body," he told the congregation.

 

During his homily, Francis also addressed another theme close to his heart, immigration, saying women who moved abroad to provide for their children should be honoured, not scorned.

 

"Today even motherhood is humiliated, because the only growth that interests us is economic growth," he said.

 

"There are mothers, who risk perilous journeys to desperately try to give the fruit of the womb a better future and are judged to be redundant by people whose bellies are full of things, but whose hearts are empty of love."

 

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which allows only unmarried men to be ordained as priests, also said women "must be fully involved in decision-making processes".

 

The pope said last April the Church had to acknowledge a history of male domination and sexual abuse of women. A month later, he appointed for the first time four women to an important Vatican department that prepares the major meetings of world bishops.

 

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Peter Graff)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-02

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Hardly a slap, more like a tap on the hand. Thoroughly deserved as well, stupid woman acting like the Indian tailors in Patong who offer and handshake and then refuse to let go.

The woman that grabbed him way way out of line. However the look of sheer evil on the pontiffs face as his beatific gormless smile turned into a hateful snarl was priceless. I would guess a real messenger of the Lord would have offered his other arm for the crazed woman to yank and then maybe kneel down and pray for her. Seems like a charlatan if you ask me.

6 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

The woman that grabbed him way way out of line. However the look of sheer evil on the pontiffs face as his beatific gormless smile turned into a hateful snarl was priceless. I would guess a real messenger of the Lord would have offered his other arm for the crazed woman to yank and then maybe kneel down and pray for her. Seems like a charlatan if you ask me.

Its the same for most religious people, preaching things others have to do but not abiding by it themselves. Thankfully atheism is getting more and more popular especially among the more educated people.

 

Though I am amazed that when i was posting at a bodybuilding forum in the US i got a guy praising the lord in helping him stay away from alcohol. Seems there are many religious nuts over there. We have them too in a certain part of the Netherlands. I just don't understand it why people are so brainwashed. But then again as long as they don't bother me I don't bother them.

Edited January 2, 20206 yr by robblok

The woman was out of hand. ????

Agree with other posters, the woman was totally wrong.

Yet where was the Christian turn the other cheek?

The response from the Pope was frightening, the look on his face says it all.

Well, you really can't blame him.  After all, the pope is fallible.

"tugged him"

 

Ok.

 

????

I can relate to him more now. But if I was Catholic which I'm certainly not I would be a very bad Catholic indeed. 

She should not have pulled him ,religous fervour maybe? but no way should he have slapped her and that terrible look on his face ,what would Jesus have said .?

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

Agree with other posters, the woman was totally wrong.

Yet where was the Christian turn the other cheek?

The response from the Pope was frightening, the look on his face says it all.

If he'd been on the ol' creme de menthe it might explain why he was grumpy ????

 

The self proclaimed god on earth lost patience

 

 

 

What would Jesus do?

A slap. Frankly I'd be more concerned, as another poster intimated, that the pope had been "tugged".

 

Is nothing sacred?

 

Rooster "Finbar"

6 minutes ago, Jane Dough said:

A slap. Frankly I'd be more concerned, as another poster intimated, that the pope had been "tugged".

 

Is nothing sacred?

 

Rooster "Finbar"

I doubt it:

Why he doesn't apologise for all those pedophile priests instead of a slapping arm?

Frankie's apology is so in line with all the apology-grovellers who regret having stirred up some hornet's nest on Twitter.

I am a bad boy...I'll never do it again...please don't revile me....

 

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

I doubt it:

I dread to think where His Holiness might hang that.

 

Rooster

well a simple self wristy slapper on himself will balance the books... 

 

 

maybe he doesn't like asians?

 

 

but then... 100s of years ago she'd have been sent off to the Inquisition

Edited January 2, 20206 yr by tifino

3 hours ago, ICELANDMAN said:

 

The self proclaimed god on earth lost patience

 

 

 

He really proclaimed that?  Be interested to see a link please.

Popey is only human ,  born to sin ..

       One thing is sure , no one gets out of life,  alive.

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 20206 yr by elliss

 

there is only one god...

 

the  RSM or WOD, known equally as 'Sir'

"get 'em back you 'orrible little man" 

 

I will Judge you on your deeds, your words...are irrelevant

Miserable old goit.

6 hours ago, ivor bigun said:

She should not have pulled him ,religous fervour maybe? but no way should he have slapped her and that terrible look on his face ,what would Jesus have said .?

He would have said, 'way to go man' because Jesus was a cool dude, deluded and schizoid certainly, but cool, the beard, the dress, the deranged speaking, all cool. 

He too is just a poor idiot who thinks he's better than all of us!

He should apologize for hiding all the pedophile priests in the catholic church and for all the harm that has been done to children by the POS priests over the years. He deserves no respect!!!!

My reaction would be very similar to his as I suffer from rheumatism and if someone had yanked me like that without me expecting it the pain in my shoulder joint would have been incredible. I despise the catholic church and what he represents but he is an 83 yr old man.

First time I have known of a member of the Catholic Church to complain about being "tugged".  I thought most actively encouraged it?

He has a lot to apologise for. He should not have slapped her hand. Should have punched in the face instead. Rude woman.