Pope Francis Apologizes for Slapping Woman’s Hand

"So many times we lose patience," the Pope said. "Even me."

Pope Francis
Pope Francis delivers his Christmas 'Urbi et Orbi' (to the City of Rome, and to the World) blessing message from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on December 25, 2019 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
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Pope Francis apologized Wednesday (Jan. 1) after a video of him slapping away the hand of a female worshipper who yanked his arm on New Year’s Eve at the Vatican went viral.

The clip shows the woman grabbing the Pope’s arm with both hands and pulling him towards her, after which the visibly angry pontiff slapped her hands twice and walked away.

In his address on Wednesday, he offered an apology and spoke of the importance of patience. “Love makes us patient,” he said. “So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologize for yesterday’s bad example.”

The Pope also went on to condemn violence against women, adding that “women are sources of life. Yet they are continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb. Every form of violence inflicted upon a woman is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman.”

He also mentioned gender equality in his speech, noting that women “should be fully included in decision-making processes” and that “every step forward for women, is a step forward for humanity as a whole.”

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