Pope apologizes for losing patience with hand-shaker who yanked him

[Stevicus]

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

VATICAN CITY -- 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.

Well, I can kind of understand how something like this can happen. Some starstruck fans can get pushy.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I don't think anyone should let themselves be a doormat or a pushover, and while I don't fault the Pope for acting like he did, too bad more of us don't consider our actions to such a degree and accept and hold ourselves accountable for our actions, right or wrong, provoked or unprovoked.

 

[Salvador]

There are lots of germs associated with handshaking, fist bumps would be a more sanitary greeting.

Study: Fist bumps are less germy than handshakes

 

[MikeDwight]

The Universal symbol of Catholic school? Ruler hand-smack pay attention.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

There are lots of germs associated with handshaking, fist bumps would be a more sanitary greeting.

Study: Fist bumps are less germy than handshakes

Its called an "immune system." Letting it do its job and the reason we have it is better for us and everyone as a whole. And just because there are germs doesn't mean you'll notice or get sick.

 

[Altfish]

Shock horror! The Pope is human!! The Pope is normal!

 

[Revoltingest]

Its called an "immune system." Letting it do its job and the reason we have it is better for us and everyone as a whole. And just because there are germs doesn't mean you'll notice or get sick.

People who greet by kissing....those are the ones to avoid.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

People who greet by kissing....those are the ones to avoid.

Yeah. They are pretty much as bad as huggers who think everyone is comfortable beimg greeted with a hug from a stranger.

 

[Salvador]

Its called an "immune system." Letting it do its job and the reason we have it is better for us and everyone as a whole. And just because there are germs doesn't mean you'll notice or get sick.

The Pope is typically old, and more likely to have a weaker than normal immune system; also who knows where some of those hands shaken by the Pope have been. I think out of consideration for the Pope's fragility, people should greet the Pope with fist bumps rather than hand shakes.

 

[Salvador]

People who greet by kissing....those are the ones to avoid.

The hair smelling greeters are very creepy.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

The Pope is typically old, and more likely to have a weaker than normal immune system; also who knows where some of those hands shaken by the Pope have been. I think out of consideration for the Pope's fragility, people should greet the Pope with fist bumps rather than hand shakes.

Yeah, I'm not aware of handshakes being fatal. He's probably more likely to be assassinated, die of food poisoning, freak accident, or old age. A handshake isnt going to hurt him, no reason for replacing a friendly handshake with a closed fist.

 

[columbus]

He's probably more likely to be assassinated,

Given this unambiguous problem, I can well understand why he would react as he did.
If I were him, I'd be more scared of guns, poison, or knives than of germs.
Tom

 

[shmogie]

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



Well, I can kind of understand how something like this can happen. Some starstruck fans can get pushy.

Well, you are never to touch kings or queens, yet you can touch the alleged " vicar of God on the earth" or whatever applies to his singular position over all the rest of us ? Strange.

 

[Salvador]

Yeah, I'm not aware of handshakes being fatal. He's probably more likely to be assassinated, die of food poisoning, freak accident, or old age. A handshake isnt going to hurt him, no reason for replacing a friendly handshake with a closed fist.

High fives are friendly greeting gestures and transmit less germs than a traditional handshake; I suppose a high five could be an acceptable good hygiene alternative to a bump fist greeting.

Perhaps, the Vatican could set guidelines where either bump fist or high five salutations with the Pope would be considered appropriate; however, traditional handshakes with the Pope should be considered as inappropriate conduct.

 

[Stevicus]

Well, you are never to touch kings or queens, yet you can touch the alleged " vicar of God on the earth" or whatever applies to his singular position over all the rest of us ? Strange.

Well, as Jim Croce would say:

You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't pee up a rope
You don't pull the mask off that ol' Lone Ranger
And you don't dare touch the Pope

 

[Shadow Wolf]

traditional handshakes with the Pope should be considered as inappropriate conduct.

No, because they aren't harming him.

 

[Salvador]

No, because they aren't harming him.

Please be aware handshakes are more of a health risk than kissing for spreading infectious bacteria.

Handshakes more dangerous than kissing! | MY HEALTH CENTRE

Hence, we can now agree my idea of the Pope greeting crowds of people with bump fists or high fives is better than the notion of the Pope shaking hands with onlookers.

 

[columbus]

Hence, we can now agree my idea of the Pope greeting crowds of people with bump fists or high fives is better than the notion of the Pope shaking hands with onlookers.

Nope.
One of the things that I like best about Francis is that he isn't afraid of real people or real people problems.
Tom

 

[Salvador]

Nope.
One of the things that I like best about Francis is that he isn't afraid of real people or real people problems.
Tom

Crowds of people do carry lots of germs, this should be considered as a legitimate health risk. High fives or bump fist greetings instead of traditional handshake greetings between the Pope and the masses would indeed reduce the risk of the Pope getting sick.

 

[Samantha Rinne]

The Pope should stop pretending to be anything other than a regular human.

And while he's at it, he should stop jockeying to be a political leader. He's not a holy man, or even a particularly nice one, he's a guy in a robe and a funny hat.

A shame. I might have liked to live in the time of the Buddha or Gandhi or Jesus. Instead this generation has imposters held up as holy.