ROME – Pope Francis wished for world peace at the beginning of the New Year. Thousands of people filled St. Peter’s Square to hear his word on World Peace Day. The pope also used strong words during a morning mass at the Vatican basilica to denounce violence against women and called for an end to the exploitation of the female body.
Under a bright winter sun and a blue sky, Pope Francis wished a happy new year of peace to a huge crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope said that our planet is not expected to have started a new circle around the sun and that humanity will live in it, but that it is always a miracle that surprises and should be appreciated.
On World Peace Day, instituted by Pope Paul VI, Pope Francis said that by 2021 the message is: “Peace is a path of hope, a path forward through dialogue, reconciliation and conversion “.
Earlier, Pope Francis celebrated a solemn Mass on New Year’s Day in St. Peter’s Basilica. On January 1, the Church celebrates Mary, mother of Jesus.
In his first homily in 2021, the pope spoke out against the violence inflicted on women in modern society. He said all violence against women is a desecration of God. She also called for an end to the exploitation of the female body, saying “it must be freed from consumerism” and “it must be respected and honored.”
He said that “how often a woman’s body is sacrificed at the profane altar of advertising, profits, pornography, as a surface to use.” He added that while women are “the sources of life,” they are continually offended, beaten, raped, forced into prostitution, or forced to have abortions.
Pope Francis said our level of humanity is understood by the way we treat a woman’s body. He also said that in order to make the world more united and at peace, women should be fully involved in decision-making.
In his homily, the pope also addressed the issue of immigration and mothers who make difficult journeys to improve the lives of their children.
She said: “There are mothers who risk dangerous journeys to desperately try to give the fruit of the womb a better future and who are judged redundant by people who have a belly full of things, but who have an empty heart of love.”