Pope Francis has shown public signs of irritation for the first time on his trip to Mexico, snapping at over-eager crowds.
After a colourful encounter with young dancers and singers in the western city of Morelia, Pope Francis went over to greet the faithful.
Some people tugged on his sleeve from behind a barrier and appeared to be on the verge of toppling him.
After it happened a second time the Pope had an irritated look on his face and said: “Don’t be selfish, don’t be selfish.”
Francis then took a couple of steps back as appeals came over the public address system asking the crowd not to group together.
The pontiff waved to people for a few more minutes before leaving.
During the visit to Morelia he also urged Mexican priests not to resign themselves to a society dominated by drug-fuelled violence and corruption, but to get out of their comfortable lives and fight the injustices tormenting their flock.
Francis issued the appeal during a mass for Mexico’s clergy in the capital of the state of Michoacan, a hotbed of the country’s drug trade.
The visit to Morelia was also a symbolic vote of confidence for the city's archbishop, Alberto Suarez Inda.
PA
