In Vatican City, Pope Francis addressed the issue of violence against women in Italy, especially in light of the recent brutal killing of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin. This tragedy has prompted protests and calls for a change in the deeply rooted culture of male chauvinism in Italy.
During a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis emphasized the need for society to respect, defend, and esteem women, calling them gifts and stating that harming a woman profanes God, who was born of a woman.
The killing of Cecchettin led to widespread outrage and a national debate on violence against women. As a result, Italian lawmakers unanimously passed measures to address this issue, with calls for respect for women to be taught in schools from a young age.
Following the killing, her ex-boyfriend confessed to the crime, shedding light on the prevalence of femicide in Italy. According to the country’s interior ministry, over 100 women were killed in 2023, with about half of the cases being related to intimate partner violence.
The public outcry over Cecchettin’s murder coincided with the success of a film titled “C’e Ancora Domani” (There’s Still Tomorrow), which depicts a woman enduring abuse from her husband. The film, set in post-World War Two Rome, is now being used as an educational tool in schools across Italy.
On the day marking the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God, also recognized as the Church’s World Day of Peace, the pope called for women to be models of peace. He stated that the world needs to look to mothers and women to find peace and break free from violence and hatred.
Francis’s comments come as part of his ongoing efforts to speak out against violence targeting women. He has made similar appeals in the past, but his words carry particular significance in the current climate in Italy.
It is clear that Pope Francis’s stance on women’s issues and his messages of peace and respect for women have resonated not only within the Catholic Church, but also with global audiences. His calls for change and reform in addressing violence against women in Italy and beyond are a step in the right direction.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alison Williams)
