'Enough! Hurting Women Is Insulting God,' Pope Francis' Homily At St. Peter's Basilica

JAKARTA - Pope Francis called for an end to violence against women with a New Year's message he delivered during a mass at St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican, on Saturday.

Pope Francis, who celebrated a mass to commemorate the feast of Saint Mary, Mother of God and the World Day of Peace, delivered a New Year's homily on the theme of mother and woman, which he said unites the threads of life.

"And because mothers give life, and women keep the world (together), let us all make greater efforts to support mothers and protect women," Pope Francis said.

“How much violence is directed against women! Enough! To hurt a woman is to insult God, because from a woman comes our humanity – not through an angel, not directly, but through a woman,” the Pope said, referring to Mary the mother of Jesus.

In an Italian television program last month, Pope Francis told a woman who had been beaten by her ex-husband that men who perpetrate violence against women were involved in something cruel.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began almost two years ago, Francis has spoken out several times against domestic violence, which has escalated in many countries since lockdowns have left many women trapped by perpetrators of violence.

In his message to mark the World Day of Peace released last month, Pope Francis said countries should divert money spent on armaments to invest in education. He also denounced the rising costs of the military at the expense of social services.

Annual peace messages are sent to heads of state and international organizations, and the Pope gives signed copies of messages to leaders who make official visits to him at the Vatican.