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

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Pope Francis stops by the Nativity exposed in St. Peter's square after presiding over vespers of the Feast of St. Mary and Te Deum of Thanksgiving at year's end, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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.

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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.