Pope Francis Apologizes After Smacking Woman’s Hand
On New Years Eve we shared a clip Pope Francis making his way through a big crowd in St. Peter’s Square to bring in the new year. He could be seen smiling and shaking hands with a few folks. But then, things get a little awkward as Francis smacks a woman’s hand after be caught by surprise from her greeting.
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On Wednesday, he confessed to losing his patience after being grabbed by the woman and apologized for his reaction.
“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,” the Pontiff told worshipers gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday, according to CNN . “Every form of violence inflicted upon a woman is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman. Many times we lose our patience; me too. I apologize for yesterday’s bad example,” Pope Francis said while going off script in a departure from his prepared remarks for the Angelus prayer Jan. 1.
During his New Year address on Wednesday, he also spoke about gender equality, telling the congregation that women “should be fully included in decision-making processes.”
“Every step forward for women, is a step forward for humanity as a whole.”
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