Vatican City: Pope Francis cautiously waded back into the crowds on Wednesday after video of him swatting away the hand of a pilgrim who grabbed him went viral and sparked a papal apology.
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Francis gingerly agreed to a nun’s request for a kiss on the cheek, but said he would only approach her if she didn’t bite.
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The moment occurred as Francis entered the Vatican auditorium at the start of his weekly general audience, when the pope usually greets well-wishers lined up behind barricades. Francis kept his distance when the sister first asked for a papal kiss, but then negotiated the terms: “I’ll give you a kiss, but keep calm. Don’t bite!” he said.
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The woman agreed and Francis then bent in to give her a peck on the cheek. His gesture prompted the woman to do a little jig of joy and sparked cheers from those around them.
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Francis’ caution was perhaps a reflection that he was still rattled by the New Year’s Eve hand-grab incident, as well as a reflection of a well-founded concern about the enthusiasm of religious sisters, who tend to go a bit wild when near the pope.
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Francis apologized during his New Year’s Day blessing for having lost his temper the previous evening when a woman aggressively grabbed his hand as he greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.
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Video of him angrily swatting away her hand went viral, with critics complaining it showed his short temper but others noting the 83-year-old pope, who suffers from sciatica and walks with difficulty, could easily have been toppled over by the aggressive grab.
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It was by no means the first time an overly enthusiastic pilgrim had lunged for the pope, nor was it the first time a pope had reacted impatiently to a perceived intrusion: While Twitter was awash in video replays of Francis, other footage resurfaced of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, angrily swatting away the hand of a reporter asking about notorious pedophile, the Rev. Marcial Maciel.
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