Pope apologizes for slapping a woman who grabbed him

New Delhi : Pope Francis tendered his apology for slapping a woman who had grabbed him as he greeted a crowd of devotees. Post apology he delivered a speech denouncing "every form of violence against women."

The images of Pope Francis slapping a woman during his walk by Catholic faithful on New Year's Eve had gone viral instantly on social media.  

A personal apology followed.

"We lose patience many times," Francis confessed.

"It happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example given yesterday," the head of the Catholic church said before celebrating Mass at the Vatican.

On Twitter, some people shared reactions in favour of Pope Francis while some supported the woman and claimed that the reaction from Pope in unacceptable.

"I'm not a Catholic, but the woman is wrong. It even seemed as if the Pope experienced pain at one moment," one comment read.

"Yikes. She was totally wrong but his reaction was not very Pope like," another commented.

The pope is known to enjoy greeting the public, and also has a reputation for speaking his mind and having a determined temperament.

Francis emphasised Wednesday that women were the "sources of life" and deplored that they were "continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb."

He underscored that in the Christian faith, "from a woman was born the Prince of peace," and bemoaned that women's bodies were "sacrificed on the profane altars of advertising, of profiteering, of pornography."