LifeSiteNews, a conservative Catholic website that often criticizes the pope, called the episode 'disturbing.'
Papal biographer Austen Ivereigh, a supporter of Francis, countered by:"He's making sure that they engage with him, not treat him like a sacred relic. He's the Vicar of Christ, not a Roman emperor."
Some Vatican watchers noted that even former Pope Benedict, a hero to nostalgic conservatives, and his predecessor John Paul, did not like having their hands kissed — at least not by long lines of people, for the sake of expediency.
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