Pope Francis Apologises And Admits He 'Lost Patience' After Slapping A Female Worshiper When She Grabbed His Hand As He Uses Vatican Speech To Call For An End To Violence Against Women

Pope Francis has apologised for slapping a woman who had grabbed him as he greeted a crowd of devotees - shortly before he delivered a speech denouncing 'every form of violence against women.'

The image of a visibly annoyed Francis slapping his way free from the clutches of an admirer as he walked by Catholic faithful on New Year's Eve instantly went viral on social media.

A personal apology followed.

'We lose patience many times,' Francis confessed.

Video showed Pope Francis, 83, reaching out to touch a child when the woman pulled him close at the Vatican

'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.

A furious Pope Francis was then pictured slapping the woman's hand and fighting to release himself from her grip

Twitter enthusiasts commented with abandon on the pontiff's prompt riposte to the woman. 

The day after the incident, the Pope decried violence against women in a speech at the Vatican, saying that it is like profaning God. He contended that if we want a better world in the new year, we should treat women with dignity. He added that involving women in decision-making is key to making humanity more peaceful and united.

In his homily during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis decried 'how many times women's bodies are sacrificed on the profane altar of advertisements, of profit, of pornography.' He lamented that while women are in his words 'the sources of life,' they are continually offended, beaten, raped, forced into prostitution' or forced to have abortions.

Francis praised women as 'donors and mediators of peace,' and urged that they should become 'fully associated' with decision-making in order to make the world more united and at peace.

'A conquest for women is a conquest for the whole of humanity,' he said.