Pope Francis has said that society and the Church must do more to recognise women.
During his weekly general audience today, Pope Francis said “more weight and more authority must be given to women”, according to a report by Vatican Radio.
Continuing his catechesis on the family, Pope Francis reflected on Christ’s approach to women in the Gospels saying that it shines a light on a long road that still needs to be travelled, a road upon which we have only taken a few steps. This road – Francis said – “is to be travelled with creativity and audacity”.
Reflecting on the similarities between the sexes, Francis said that Scripture tells us that “God created man in his own image… male and female he created them” and that man and woman bear the image and likeness of God not only as individuals, but also together.
He said that sexual differentiation is not ordered towards subordination but towards communion and procreation.
Reflecting on contemporary questions concerning gender he said that gender theory aims to eradicate sexual differences. The Pope concluded that: “removing the difference is the problem, not the solution”.
He encouraged men and women to speak more to one another, and to respect and love each other. Pope Francis urged intellectuals “not to abandon this theme as if it had become secondary within their commitment to build a more just and free society”.
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