The Novus Ordo is a false, Masonic, man centered religion. It can never be an act of compassion to instruct a soul to remain involved in it no matter how many tears are shed. Participating in false worship is a grave mortal sin. It is precisely the duty of a bishop to point out the errors and bring souls to the truth faith.
While fundamentally you are correct, practically speaking Bishops have to deal with people where they are at including all different levels of understanding, all different intellectual capacities and different emotional states and reactions.
He admitted to making a mistake, but his "mistake" was in dealing compassionately with a crying clueless woman in a public venue.
I guess he should have slapped the old lady down and chastised her publicly, which of course he didn't.
Her presence there was incidental with complete misunderstanding of what was going on and what was being said.
Everyone knew Bishop Williamson's positions on the New Mass and His courage fighting for truth against the jews and even the SSPX. No one south of Archbishop LeFebvbre has had the courage and to withstand the barrage of the world for the sake of tradition like Bishop Williamson.
It would be good of Fr Hewko to forgive him, if Fr Hewko has the ability to do it.
Bishop Williamson certainly would have forgiven him Pablo and "Bishop Moran" if he had asked for it.