Daijiworld Media Network - Vatican City (SHP)
Vatican City, Jan 2: Pope Francis apologised on Wednesday for slapping a woman who tugged him as he greeted a crowd of devotees, shortly before he delivered a speech denouncing "every form of violence against women."
The video which circulated on social media shows a visibly upset Pope Francis slapping the hand of an admirer as she tried to yank him towards her while he walked by Catholic faithful on New Year's Eve.
However, the Pope apologised for his actions. "We lose patience many times," Francis confessed.
"It happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example given yesterday," the head of the Catholic church said before celebrating Mass at the Vatican.
Francis was greeting children before the Nativity scene on Saint Peter's square and was hauled by a woman who had crossed herself then cried out something, the force of the pull almost caused Francis to fall.
The 83-year-old pope grimaced and scowled before managing to break free, slapping her hand twice as a security guard intervened.
The pontiff continued his tour, walking now at a greater distance from the visitors, but gradually stepped closer the crowd lines again to greet other children.
Twitter comments revealed some supported his instinctive reaction.
"I'm not a Catholic, but the woman is wrong. It even seemed as if the Pope experienced pain at one moment," one comment read.
But not everyone was pleased by the Pope's actions.
"Yikes. She was totally wrong but his reaction was not very Pope like," another user commented.
In his first Mass of the New Year, the pontiff later declared that 'every form of violence against women is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman.'
He noted that the service traditionally celebrates the life of Mary, "the woman who wove the humanity of God."
The blessing of God for all, he said, was 'not magic but requires patience, patience and love.'
The pope is known to enjoy greeting the public, and also has a reputation for speaking his mind and having a determined temperament.
Francis emphasised on Wednesday that women were the 'sources of life' and deplored that they were 'continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb.'
He underscored that in the Christian faith, 'from a woman was born the Prince of peace," and bemoaned that women's bodies were "sacrificed on the profane altars of advertising, of profiteering, of pornography."