(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday expressed his hope women enslaved to the “arrogance of the powerful” will be allowed to have a life of “peace, justice, and love.”
The Holy Father was speaking during his Angelus address for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.
“The Assumption of Mary is a great mystery that pertains to all of us, regarding our future;” Pope Francis said.
“The exultation of this humble girl from Galilee, expressed in the canticle of the Magnificat, becomes the song of all mankind, who is pleased to see the Lord reach down to all men and all women, lowly creatures, and take them with him in into heaven,” the Pope said.
“The Canticle of Mary also leads us to think about many actual sad situations, in particular those women overwhelmed by the weight of life and the drama of violence; of women who are slaves to the arrogance of the powerful; the girls forced into inhumane work; the women forced to surrender in both body and spirit to the avarice of men,” Pope Francis said.
“May they as soon as possible begin a life of peace, justice, and love: waiting for the day when they finally feel grasped by hands that do not humiliate; but with tenderness that will lift them up and guide them on the road of life, and on to heaven.” he continued.
“Mary, a woman – a young girl – who has suffered so much in her life, makes us think of these women who suffer so much,” – the Pope said – “And we ask the Lord that He at the same time lead them by the hand along life’s path, and free them from this slavery.”
Pope Francis on Friday visited a refugee centre in Rome housing women rescued from prostitution as part of his ‘Friday of Mercy’ gestures during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis turned his attention to the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday during his Angelus for the Solemnity of the Assumption.
The eastern province has long been plagued by violence – often spilling over from conflicts in neighboring countries – and this weekend, another massacre killing at least 40 people.
“To the Queen of Peace, whom we contemplate today in heavenly glory, I want to entrust once again the anxieties and the sorrows of the people in many parts of the world are the innocent victims of persistent conflicts” – Pope Francis said – “which have for some time been perpetrated in shameful silence, without attracting even as much as our attention. Unfortunately, they are part of the too many innocent people who have no weight on world opinion.”
“My thoughts go to the people of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have been recently hit with fresh massacres,” – the Holy Father continued – “May Mary obtain for all people sentiments of compassion and understanding and the desire for peace and harmony!”
(from Vatican Radio)…