Violence is wrong – but does it really matter that the Pope slapped that woman’s hand away?

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An 83-year-old man gets his arm grabbed causing obvious pain, and as the person won’t let go, he slaps her hand twice, for which he later apologises. This shouldn’t be a worldwide story. Although, as he is the Pope, and by extension, a leader and role model for so many people, the act of hitting someone, however lightly, took on a new meaning.

The message as reinforced by the Pope following reports of the incident, is that you shouldn’t hit women (although in reality, you shouldn’t hit anyone – even in self-defence – if it can be avoided). A couple of slaps on the hand won’t cause too much harm, but we see so much violence in the world that anything like it diminishes us as humans.

There should be no violence anywhere and I am sure that this is the subject of many prayers. Although, if we are to stop it from happening, divine intervention may be needed. No one, not even the Pope, evidently, seems to have a solution. Let’s pray for a better world. But more importantly, let’s put those thoughts into personal action every day.

Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne

I read the news story about the Pope and saw the coverage when he showed his visible displeasure at the women trying to grab his hand when he had walked away.

As a Catholic, I am a great admirer of Pope Francis, who shows human frailty and advocates a responsible and humble approach to life. In this instance, he was showing a very human response to the obvious pain he suffered by what I interpreted as her demanding gesture.

He later apologised for his loss of patience, but the fact that he does get up close and personal really speaks volumes for him and not his momentary loss of equilibrium.

Judith A Daniels
Great Yarmouth

Johnson can’t be friends with Remainers

Boris Johnson said that he wants a friendly relationship with Remainers and non-Tories and that he wants to govern in their interests. Well, he is paid to rule in the interests of all. But friendly relationship? No chance. He should know that we non-Tories and Remainers hold him in odium and will not rest until he is out of office. Get used to it, Boris.

Francis Beswick
Stretford

Grammar schools are divisive

Your report on grammar schools (Grammar schools receiving share of £50m government fund struggle to attract poorer children, figures suggest) speaks to my personal experiences. My son was probably the only pupil in his year at grammar school who did not have private tutoring to pass the entrance exam and this seems to persist throughout the country.

It brings little hope for those from deprived backgrounds unless they are quite exceptional.

Grammar schools remain as divisive as ever.

Sue Jarvis
Fawsley

Leavers need to learn from Farage

I enjoyed Vince Cable’s article (Brexit is going to happen, and Remainers need to take some lessons from Farage). However, I don’t think it’s Remainers who need to learn from Farage: it’s Leavers.

Farage has, with considerable financial backing, built a dodgy career on a single issue. When Leavers complain about other people not respecting the slim margin commonly referred to as a majority that swung it for them, they should remember that Farage created a career campaigning, without position, responsibility or accountability, against our first referendum and then set about sabotaging our position within the EU instead of building influence.

So, please don’t criticise Remainers if we don’t roll over. I will listen to any political party that reconsiders our EU membership – even though I realise that our membership terms will never be as generous as they were. I’d far rather be part of a European bloc than begging for trade deals with the US or China. In a heartbeat.

Beryl Wall
London W4