(Vatican City, February 1, 2021). The Pope Video for February sends out a powerful message against the various kinds of violence against women. In the face of this “degradation of all humanity,” the Holy Father asks that women be protected by society and that their sufferings be heeded by all.
The video is a powerful message against the violence that millions of women suffer daily: “psychological violence, verbal violence, physical violence, sexual violence.” For Pope Francis, these abuses are “acts of cowardice and a degradation of all humanity.” Consequently, he asks us to pray for the victims, “that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded by all.”
“It’s shocking how many women are beaten, insulted, and raped,” says the Holy Father. In his February message, the Pope asks for society to protect these victims. Although at least 155 countries have approved domestic violence laws and 140 have legislation regarding workplace sexual harassment, to give two examples, this does not mean that these laws always conform with international norms and recommendations, nor that they are applied and enforced.