A woman grabs Pope Francis' hand as he turns away while walking to visit the Nativity scene in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.
(CNS photo/Vatican Media) Pope Francis has met and shook hands with the woman whom he lost his patience with and slapped in St. Peter’s Square on December 31.
The Holy Father spoke briefly to the woman after a general audience in January during the “baciamano”; the time reserved for pilgrims to greet the Pope.
In the photos, both parties could be seen smiling towards one another as they shake hands with a priest standing near the woman appearing to be acting as an interpreter.
The Pope had apologised for losing his temper with the woman during his Angelus address on January 1.
“Many times we lose our patience, me too. I apologise for yesterday’s (December 31) bad example,” he said in his speech on New Years’ Day.
The incident occurred while Pope Francis was greeting the crowd in front of the Vatican on New Years’ Eve.
A woman in the crowd yanked his arm while holding on to his hand causing a visibly upset Pope Francis to slap her hand and walk away frustrated.