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Omaha Steve

(99,795 posts)
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 03:07 PM Jan 2020

Pope: Sorry I lost patience with hand-shaker who yanked me

Source: AP

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has apologized for hitting the hand of a well-wisher who grabbed him and yanked him toward her.

In his new year’s wishes to the public in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Francis confessed to losing his patience with the woman while he was strolling in the square Tuesday night to admire the Vatican’s Nativity scene.

Cameras captured the scene when the woman, from behind a barrier, reached out and grabbed the pope’s hand, pulling him violently toward her. 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 impromptu remarks Wednesday, Francis said “so many times we lose patience. Me, too.” He then added “I say ‘excuse me’ for the bad example” he gave in the incident Tuesday.



Pope Francis presides over a Mass for the solemnity of St. Mary at the beginning of the new year, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)


Read more: https://apnews.com/c1e633b06057d665bb17ac49b69421f5

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Pope: Sorry I lost patience with hand-shaker who yanked me (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jan 2020 OP
She was in the wrong. LakeArenal Jan 2020 #1
she was out of control stopdiggin Jan 2020 #7
+1 sandensea Jan 2020 #9
"In March, Francis repeatedly withdrew his hand from worshipers as they sought to kiss his ring." dalton99a Jan 2020 #2
Enough to piss off the Pope keithbvadu2 Jan 2020 #3
LOL n/t Yeehah Jan 2020 #16
She's lucky he didn't press charges Cartoonist Jan 2020 #4
He's good to be forgiving, but people shouldn't grab him aggressively like that IronLionZion Jan 2020 #5
nothing to apologize for stopdiggin Jan 2020 #6
Why would this be an issue? Hulk Jan 2020 #8
This is a real problem for many celebrities and VIPs Shoonra Jan 2020 #10
Someone struck the Pope in the face while in Chile. Kid Berwyn Jan 2020 #11
Pope Frank was understandably upset orangecrush Jan 2020 #12
I suppose if he can forgive the pedophile priests, he can forgive an overly aggressive well-wisher. hughee99 Jan 2020 #13
Is the Pope scheduled to meet up with Donald anytime soon? generalbetrayus Jan 2020 #14
A Pope's gotta do what a Pope's gotta do! Marcuse Jan 2020 #15
. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2020 #18
"I lost my patience" i always say that as an understatement n/t babydollhead Jan 2020 #17
Why didn't he just excommunicate her? Far simpler... brooklynite Jan 2020 #19
I'm no fan of the pope but Skittles Jan 2020 #20

LakeArenal

(28,863 posts)
1. She was in the wrong.
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 03:10 PM
Jan 2020

Of course the Pope would forgive her.
That is his job.

Usually we would know who she is by now. Does anyone?

stopdiggin

(11,391 posts)
7. she was out of control
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 04:21 PM
Jan 2020

which just serves to illustrate the inherent danger in such situations. Just stop!

sandensea

(21,692 posts)
9. +1
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 04:53 PM
Jan 2020

He's 83, and yanking any 83 year old's arm like that must be very painful.

I wouldn't be surprised to see his arm in a sling for a few days.

dalton99a

(81,649 posts)
2. "In March, Francis repeatedly withdrew his hand from worshipers as they sought to kiss his ring."
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 03:18 PM
Jan 2020
In March, Francis repeatedly withdrew his hand from worshipers as they sought to kiss his ring.

Video of that receiving line also circulated widely, and it became material for jokes on late-night talk shows. It was also a source of consternation for conservatives, many of whom dislike Francis and called the video disturbing evidence of the pope’s breaking with tradition and ritual.

The Vatican said at the time that the pope’s motivation for yanking his hand back was itself viral. “It was a simple question of hygiene,” said Alessandro Gisotti, who was then the Vatican’s chief spokesman.

On the papal plane later that month, a reporter jokingly withdrew his hand as Francis sought to shake it, prompting a good-humored explanation from Francis that he had simply been looking out for people’s health.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/01/world/europe/pope-francis-slap-video.html

IronLionZion

(45,579 posts)
5. He's good to be forgiving, but people shouldn't grab him aggressively like that
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 03:52 PM
Jan 2020

No matter how excited they are to see him.

Grabbing someone is a very Trumpian move

stopdiggin

(11,391 posts)
6. nothing to apologize for
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 04:19 PM
Jan 2020

although he is gracious enough to offer one, even when not in the wrong.

Crowds, and people in the crowds, can be dangerous. Squirrels and nut-jobs abound in today's world, and this totally meaningless custom of "pressing the flesh" should be abandoned. This fetish about "touching" a complete stranger would be recognized as delusional and totally inappropriate in other social settings.

 

Hulk

(6,699 posts)
8. Why would this be an issue?
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 04:36 PM
Jan 2020

You want to touch me...shake my hand....fine. Grab me and pull me toward you.....NOT!

Shoonra

(523 posts)
10. This is a real problem for many celebrities and VIPs
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 05:00 PM
Jan 2020

President McKinley was shot by an assassin who had a grip on his hand.
Since then the Secret Service has been alert to problem handshakers; most of them simply are so in awe that they forget to let go - but there's always the troublemaker that thinks he can make the Prez his captive audience for even a minute.

I have no criticism of the Pope, and plenty of criticism of the woman who grabbed and yanked him.

Kid Berwyn

(15,006 posts)
11. Someone struck the Pope in the face while in Chile.
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 06:28 PM
Jan 2020

A person in the crowd tossed something at him in 2018. I can understand his reaction upon being grabbed.

orangecrush

(19,652 posts)
12. Pope Frank was understandably upset
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 06:43 PM
Jan 2020


Yanking like that could be the first move in an attempt on your life, if you're a high profile public figure.

generalbetrayus

(508 posts)
14. Is the Pope scheduled to meet up with Donald anytime soon?
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 07:04 PM
Jan 2020

I'd love to see his reaction to the patented Trump handshake arm pull.

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