Rome: Pope Francis has apologised for hitting the hand of a woman who grabbed his hand and yanked him towards her in St Peter's Square on Tuesday.

Francis was walking through the square in Vatican City and greeting pilgrims on his way to see the large Nativity scene set up in the huge, cobbled esplanade.

After reaching out to touch a child, the Pope turned away from the crowd only for a nearby woman to seize his hand and pull her towards him. The abrupt gesture appeared to cause him pain.

Francis, 83, exclaimed and then struck the woman's hand twice to free his hand.