The Pope Has Apologised For Straight-Up Slapping Someone
But not before he became a massive meme.
No matter how unsatisfying your 2020 has been so far, trust me that you’re having a better one than the Pope, who has had to kick off his new decade with an apology for straight-up slapping someone.
The whole fracas went down earlier this week, when His Holiness was visiting a crowd of devoted Catholics. One, a young woman, was particularly keen to bend the Pope’s ear, so reached out and forcefully grabbed his arm.
When she refused to let go, the Pope demonstrated that very holy trait of forgiveness and calm by slapping the shit out of her hand. Now, let’s be clear: the slap was relatively low-key. He wasn’t like, really swinging. But slapping is pretty un-Popely, no matter how hard or soft it is.
I mean, just look at this:
Pope Francis smacks woman's hand to free himself from her grip https://t.co/8nNYWBtJay pic.twitter.com/swzMEvAzXH
— CNN (@CNN) January 1, 2020
Since the video went viral online, Twitter has reacted in a curiously divided way, with some condemning the behaviour, and others firmly arguing that the Pope slapping someone is: A) pretty funny, and B) good.
What’s the point of being pope if you can’t slap anyone you want
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) January 1, 2020
Welcome to 2020, the pope is slappin bitches
— God (@thegoodgodabove) January 1, 2020
First Reformed (2017): pic.twitter.com/rFXGAz4C8k
— Eric Allen Hatch (@ericallenhatch) January 1, 2020
We’ve gone from ‘is the Pope Catholic’ to ‘Does the Pope slap women’
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) January 1, 2020
Anyway, perhaps recognising that an institution as corrupt as the Church should get as little bad press as possible, the Pope decided to retract the slap, and apologised for his behaviour.
“Many times we lose our patience,” he said. “I do, too, and I’m sorry for yesterday’s bad example.”
And hey, while he’s in an apologetic mood, maybe the Pope could start accepting responsibility for a few other bad things the Church has done?