Pope Francis slaps woman's hand away

[Ohiogal]

As she reaches out to him and pulls him towards her.

Wow. Very un-Pope like. Check out the video with the article here.

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN1YZ190

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. The mask slipped.

I'm no fan of the pope but I'll give him that she YANKED his arm. But his reaction was one of such contempt.

[Ohiogal]

3. That was my first thought, too.

His action was full of contempt. What gives?

[jberryhill]

5. Because grabbing and twisting old men is hard on them

[50 Shades Of Blue]

9. Not as hard as forcing children to bear their rapists' babies.

[smirkymonkey]

51. +1000

Thank YOU!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. THIS!!!

[tinrobot]

60. Old men don't need to be pulled, women don't need to be forced.

Neither is good, and neither should happen.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

71. He's an old man responsible for many grievous wrongs to women and children.

I have no sympathy for him. None.

[UniteFightBack]

74. Oh yes he is personally responsible for every damn thing. SMH. nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

77. He's the head of the Catholic Church. That means he is responsible for its anti-woman policies.

And all its other anti-human policies.

[Tiggeroshii]

81. Him and the hundreds of cardinals and bishops that maintain the policy, you mean?

He has hinted at wanting to change it but without enough support in the Vatican, any full shift would be political suicide.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

82. They answer to him. He doesn't answer to them. Hinting is meaningless.

[Tiggeroshii]

83. Its a legislative system. He cant do anything without their support.

And vice versa.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

85. How convenient for him. Meanwhile the Catholic church picks nonviable cell clumps

over living breathing women and children who may not survive without abortion. But that's OK because Francis knows how to play the PR game, while having no intention of changing how the church treats women.

[Tiggeroshii]

87. All I know is that hes the best they've had in a while

Though that really isnt saying much.

[lame54]

10. Depends what she said...

I couldn't understand it but he obviously did

[Haggis for Breakfast]

12. W H O A, let's get real here for a minute.

The man is 83 years old and suffers from severe sciatica problems.

It was obvious that he was leaving the crowd to walk to another area. He had already turned away when the woman grabbed his hand and yanked him off his balance. I'd have slapped at her hand, too. And I'm waiting for someone to translate what she said to him. What she did was BEYOND inappropriate.

Jorge Mario Bergoglia is not some pop-idol or rock star or internet influencer. He is the Vicar of Christ: Pope Francis. It was rude and disrespectful. And from the look on her face, she KNEW that.

[GemDigger]

24. Well said. nt

[obnoxiousdrunk]

25. Well said.

[2naSalit]

27. That's what I thought.

I'd have slapped her hand too, well maybe not her hand.

[CousinIT]

34. THIS. Saw the video. The woman YANKED him after he turned away and wouldn't let go.

I'd have reacted the same way he did.

[calimary]

72. I just saw the video and YES she grabbed him and yanked him rather forcefully.

Hey, he’s a little old man. You have to go easy on the elderly - handle them with care. They’re increasingly fragile. She’s the one at fault. Heck, I think I’d probably respond to something like that the same way he did.

[emmaverybo]

37. Yes. A thousand times yes.

[MFM008]

44. I didnt know about the

Sciatica. If thats the case that womans lucky she survived...
A severe sciatic attack is the worst pain i ever had
And ive had a kid. 15 surgeries. Kidney stones and gall stones.
It feels like a shark is ahold of of your rear end.
So don't be too hard on the old guy.

[TruckFump]

53. I think the Roman Catholic church is a piece of shit. However...

...there is NO excuse for how that woman acted and Pope or no Pope being the object of her conduct, she was totally out of line. I would have slapped the shit out of her if she had grabbed one of my arthritic hands and pulled me off balance.

IMO, it looked like the Pope had a shock of severe pain from what she did and his expression was not of contempt, but a rather human one of "Oh, did that hurt!!!"

[ansible]

23. Wow, the christian bashing here just can't restrain itself

[Beartracks]

59. No kidding. It's like: "Call me when he makes the Church pro-choice, otherwise meh."

[Hortensis]

62. Religious bigotry is extremely pervasive and can be as vicious

as any other kind. And ALWAYS by definition is dishonest and indulgent of what should never be.

However, I was glad to see that most of the posts above this, at least, are pretty decent and sensible. I expected much worse sooner.

[jberryhill]

70. Opposition to an organized body seeking to curtail your rights is not bigotry

Nothing justifies grabbing and twisting an old man, but quite a few people are victims of this particular organization.

I shall inform my acquaintance who was molested as a child by a priest while the church did nothing that he is a bigot.

[UniteFightBack]

73. I don't like the gratuitous bashing either and I'm an Atheist. nt

[MicaelS]

88. BUT, DO NOT dare say anything...

About Islam.

[JonLP24]

92. Christians are the oppressed majority

Some Christian sects think Catholics are going to hell so some of the Catholic bashing comes from Christians.

[UniteFightBack]

75. How dare he act like a human being! HOW DARE HE!!!! *eye roll* nt

[cvoogt]

2. that did not look like contempt to me.

It looked like pain.

[jberryhill]

4. I dunno if it is "un pope-like"

But it sure is human.

She startled him because she jerked him around and would not let go.

He reacted as one would to an animal attack - which it was.

She was clearly caught up in the moment and out of control.

[nini]

7. I agree.. he looked like he was in pain when she pulled at him.

Not to mention he was greeting children. She was out of line and he showed his human side in his reaction.

I'm surprised security didn't swarm her.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

14. Actually, the man right next to him, who swatted the woman's hand away

WAS security.

[Adsos Letter]

6. I saw pain and anger.

I wonder if he ever fears assassination? Could have been an initial burst of fear as well, I suppose.

[nini]

8. I'm sure that's part of it

It was attempted on another pope before as we all know.

[UniteFightBack]

11. At least he didn't grab her pussy. nt

[LakeArenal]

30. Egads. Did you ever...

Think that grabbing pussy would be a real thing? By our president!?!

Unreal.

[Tipperary]

13. I would be pretty likely to react angrily if someone did

that to me. Why do people think they can grab other people just because they are famous?

[Chemisse]

15. What? You mean he's human?

Seriously, I would've reacted the same way. Nobody has the right to commandeer your body like that.

[Farmer-Rick]

16. He probably has arthritis in his hands and wrists

When that woman jerked him over like that it probably hurt but when she wouldn't let his hand go it was probably even more painful.

I have arthritis in my hands and wrists. The initial pain of a sudden unexpected movement disappears quickly if I can relax and move my hand.

[Quackers]

35. Here's the video

You can see he winces in pain when grabbed.

[CatMor]

17. I would not want someone to grab me that way ..

she was way out of line.

[tblue37]

18. She was very aggressive and continued yanking as he tried to pull away. She

Last edited Wed Jan 1, 2020, 11:52 AM - Edit history (1)

would not let go. Slapping her hand was probably the only way to get free.

I would have smacked her face if she had done that to me.

[2naSalit]

66. +1

[Raine]

19. I would've done the same

it was a human reaction, she was hurting him.

[dalton99a]

20. She was fucking rude. She physically hurt him.

[Cousin Dupree]

21. She almost made him fall, she pulled him so hard. It 's very disconcerting to have someone make

you lose your balance. It happened to me and I was instantly angry. I don’t blame him one bit.

[Renew Deal]

22. It's scary that this can happen to anyone on a rope line.

I’m surprised that security didn’t jump in faster.

Has anyone figured out what she was saying?

[lapucelle]

26. "Disgruntled Pope" will be the first meme of the new decade.

https://bit.ly/35efg23

[Jake Stern]

28. Pope Francis' reaction was completely justified

She’d have been face down on the pavement under half a dozen security agents had she lunged at most other Heads of State like that.

[EveHammond13]

29. Was it Melanie?

[MerryBlooms]

31. So tired of seeing these bogus OP headlines.

She grabbed and yanked him back. I was grabbed and yanked at a Halloween party, I screamed in pain. I was released, but it was too late, he tore my hernia. I go in to the surgeon on the 7th, but not sure I'll make it until then. People don't mean to hurt, but sometimes they do. The kid that grabbed me feels awful about it, but know what, me too! Keep your fucking hands to yourself!

[blogslut]

57. I hope all goes well for you.

I'm sorry you were hurt.

[MerryBlooms]

61. Thanks, me too. Coughing and sneezing is killer.

It stems from a car accident in 2006, this will be the 4th repair. I had the mesh repair last time, so not sure what they'll do this time. I'm a little nervous, but looking forward to not having this huge lump on my tummy (I call it my twin). Heh

[mahina]

58. Right? He's the Pope, not Jesus himself.

I’m really sorry to hear that happened to you feel better soon

[MerryBlooms]

63. For some reason, all my life, men have always though it funny to pick me up,

no idea why. I was caught totally off guard and didn't brace myself. He asked for a hug, and then scooped me up and kinda swung me around. omg, the pain was horrific. My rule now is, just a handshake, no more hugs unless it's someone I know really well.

[Dennis Donovan]

32. Here's a gif of the incident. It looks like he was in pain.

[dalton99a]

33. Yep

[smirkymonkey]

41. Ok, I would have said it was rude, but he does look like he is in pain there.

What a bizarre situation.

[Raine]

40. Looks like she twisted his arm

as she jerked him and probably dislocated something, looks like it really hurt. Some people have no common sense, she deserved more then a slap for that!

[peggysue2]

42. That's definitely an expression of pain

If you notice the woman beside the grabber released his hand immediately. The grabber did not. Instead she yanked nearly knocking Pope Francis off balance. Dumb and thoughtless.

[KentuckyWoman]

80. She's lucky all he did was give her a little slap and walk away.

Yank on an 83 yr old man like that and it won't be pretty for you.

Jesus said turn the other cheek, he didn't say stand there and be abused.

[meadowlander]

97. He also told her at least twice to let go before he lightly slapped the back of her hand.

That's a lot more patience than most people would have in the face of the same behaviour.

[TexasTowelie]

36. Two "Our Fathers" and a "Hail Mary".

For the woman, not the pope. Just because he is pope doesn't mean that his personal space shouldn't be respected.

[Joinfortmill]

38. He was physically yanked toward her

She's lucky security didn't take her down.

[Generic Brad]

39. Touched by an angel or punched by a Pope?

You be the judge.

For me — Pope Punch!

[Codeine]

43. My contempt for the man and his organization is absolute,

but this was a natural reaction to being grabbed and pulled by a stranger.

[moriah]

84. Pretty much my opinion too.

I mean, she was obviously praying that he would keep coming towards her, not just greet the kids. She might have been offended that he didn't. There may be reasons besides it being his time to move on that he did not.

But laying hands on another human being without their permission, especially pulling on someone, is assault in many states, and as such in many states whatever necessary force to stop it would be permissible self-defense.

If I'm gonna hold his priests to the laws that require all clergy to report child abuse as mandated reporters, I'm going to hold his followers to the laws about grabbing people without their consent.

[applegrove]

45. She did grab him and yank. You never know if she didn't scare him.

Popes have been murdered or assaulted before. She was wrong. He reacted aggressively angry. Pushed her away. There is good and bad in every normal human being. I think he deserves a pass. He just got angry. I'd rather have a pope with normal human emotional vocabulary than not.

[Historic NY]

46. I'm surprised his security didn't step in...

she was very rude.

[LAS14]

64. They did. Look at the man behind the pope take her hand. nt

[pnwmom]

47. An 83 year old man probably has arthritis in the hand that got grabbed and pulled.

She shouldn't have done that.

[greyl]

48. HE'S ONLY HUMAN. nt

[BuffaloJackalope]

49. We live in a world where Popes get shot at.

And the big guys in the black coats are security.

[oasis]

50. Popes are people too. nt

[Raven123]

52. He apologized.

[The Blue Flower]

54. She should have

She assaulted him.

[LAS14]

65. How do you know? Link? nt

[dalton99a]

69. .

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pope-francis-apologizes-after-smacking-hand-of-woman-who-had-pulled-him-toward-her/2020/01/01/052d1e36-2c84-11ea-9b60-817cc18cf173_story.html
Pope Francis apologizes after smacking hand of woman who had pulled him toward her

[Pachamama]

56. She grabbed and pulled him and you can see it twisted him and he winced in pain/fear - his reaction

...was in my opinion perfectly normal and reactionary.

If that had been me being grabbed like that, I might have done far more than slap. Especially in a split second reaction situation where someone unexpectedly grabs me.

[Baitball Blogger]

67. Guys. The pope is 83.

The way that woman yanked him sideways, there was probably some pain and balance issues involved.

Would you want someone to yank your 83 year old grandfather that way?

[2naSalit]

68. Looks like a rather mild defensive act after being

attacked by a woman who looked like she was yelling something nasty at him as she continued to yell even after he got away from her.

Looks more like some whacked out person with an agenda that was negative toward the guy.

I don't do religion but I do understand an have respect. For all the religious hoopla, the pope does deserve some respect as a human. That person didn't seem to recognize any of that.

[jberryhill]

89. Yes, he reacted as anyone would to someone trying to control his body

[2naSalit]

90. Exactly.

I thought it was a mild response considering. I would have punched her, but then, I'm not the pope. But that was just weird and disrespectful.

[jberryhill]

91. People do seem to get upset when others try to control what they do with their bodies

[2naSalit]

94. I have a tendency

to go ballistic at that point. So she got a papal slap on the wrist, literally, and explosions occur. I wonder if people realize that he pees and craps too...

[jberryhill]

95. Just imagine if someone told you what you could do with your own vagina

[2naSalit]

96. I have lived with that all my life

even here in the good ol' US of A. I recall life before Roe. And that fact that things really aren't that much better given the length of time and our touting of how advanced a culture we are... really pisses me off.

[JohnnyRingo]

76. I saw him do this to multiple people a couple weeks ago

I don't entirely understand, but it had something to do with personal blessings. Like how rubbing the hair of a red headed boy will bring luck and wealth, people want to touch the Pope.

I believe it's a humble gesture on his part and knowledge that he doesn't possess magical powers. He doesn't want to be worshiped or a lucky rabbit's foot.

[hunter]

78. A Wookiee Pope might have ripped her arm off.

It's bad manners to grab people like that.

[guillaumeb]

79. If someone grabbed at you,

what would be your response?

[Doremus]

86. You can see the pain register on his face.

She grabbed him suddenly and with force. It hurt. He reacted instinctively. End of story.

I'm no pope follower but he was entirely justified.

[lindysalsagal]

93. Gee- Maybe he's just human, after all???

Anyone who wants to be put up in the front of such a corrupt human organization must have survival instincts......

She's probably sick of waiting for all of their false promises to come true.....