Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has strongly condemned violence against women and urged people never to underestimate abuse, calling on victims and communities to report such acts without fear. His appeal came in response to a reader’s letter published in the March edition of the magazine Piazza San Pietro on International Women’s Day.
The letter was written by a woman named Giovanna from Rome, who described the painful reality faced by many women whose relationships become violent. She wrote that for some women, loving a man, marrying him, or building a family can turn into a trap. She asked how society can explain the increasing violence by men against women they claim to love, sometimes even leading to murder.
Responding to her concerns, Pope Leo XIV said the issue causes him great suffering, especially violence within relationships and violence against women. He stressed that such acts must never be ignored and that victims should not hesitate to report abuse, even in situations where violence is minimized or responsibility is denied.
Pope recalled the words of Saint John Paul II, who spoke about the feminine genius and the unique contribution women bring to society. He said women are often creators of a culture of care and fraternity that is essential for giving humanity a future and dignity.
According to the Pope, women may sometimes become targets of violence because they represent values such as faith, freedom, equality, hope, solidarity and justice. These values, he said, can challenge a mentality that promotes selfishness, discrimination and the desire to dominate others.
Pope Leo also referred to a message he gave during a Pentecost homily last June, where he warned about attitudes that lead to violence. He said any form of violence marks a boundary between civilization and barbarism.
In his reply, the Pope supported Giovanna’s suggestion that deeper cultural and educational efforts are needed to address the problem. He agreed that schools and the Church should work together to promote respect and teach young people that women must never be treated as objects to possess.
Pope said families, schools, parishes, movements, religious communities and public institutions all have a role in developing projects that prevent violence against women.
Repeating an appeal he had already made on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in November, Pope Leo urged society to stop violence by forming young people in values of respect and dignity.
He concluded by saying that every person deserves respect and that both men and women share the same human dignity. He said society must work to eliminate violence and develop a mindset that promotes peace and care for others.