In his homily at Mass in the Santa Marta residence, Holy Father Pope Francis reflected on the exploitation of women today who are treated like objects, recalling that without women men cannot be the image and likeness of God. His Holiness Pope Francis lamented how so many females are used and cast aside and spoke of the young women who are forced to sell their own dignity in order to earn a living.
As reported by Vatican news, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “Jesus’ doctrine about women changes history. Before Jesus the view about women was one thing but after Jesus they are another. Jesus dignifies women and puts them on the same level as men because he takes that first word of the Creator, both are “the image and likeness of God”, both of them; not first the man and then a little lower down the woman, no, both are. And a man without a woman beside him – whether as a mother, as a sister, as a bride, as a working companion, as a friend – that man by himself is not the image of God.” Further, His Holiness added, “Women are the victims of that use and throw away mentality and don’t even seem to be treated as a person. his is a sin against God the Creator, rejecting women because without her we men cannot be the image and likeness of God. There is an anger and resentment against women, a nasty anger. Even without saying it… But how many times do young women have to sell themselves as disposable objects in order to get a job? How many times? “Yes, Father, I heard in that country…”. Here in Rome. There’s no need to go far away.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his homily by stressing how during his ministry Jesus encountered so many women who were despised, marginalized and cast aside and with great tenderness he restored their dignity.
