That’s one picky pontiff.
Pope Francis is apparently getting annoyed with the whole papal ring-kissing tradition, as video posted Monday shows His Holiness flinching and pulling his hand away as his visitors try to kiss his ring.
The funny footage of a long line of greeters at the Holy House of Loreto in Italy has the embattled pope repeatedly yanking his hand away when his adorers move in for a smooch.
Catholics on Twitter were peeved at the pope. “Did JESUS brush the band of the woman who touched His garment? The many who mobbed Him continuously?? Come, come,” wrote @VoluntasDeiFiat in response to the video.
“I’d be CRUSHED if the Holy Father ripped his hands away like that,” replied @KatLetellier.
Could it be a germ concern, a la Mitt Romney plucking out the candles on his birthday cake before blowing them out, one by one? Or, as Twitter user @arareblackbird suggested, it could just be another one of Francis’ forward-thinking shifts: “Finally a Pope that tries to put an end to the tradition of excessive reverence towards his figure and his ring.”
