In his video presenting the prayer intention for the month of February, Pope Francis denounces that “there continue to be women who suffer violence: psychological violence, verbal violence, physical violence, sexual violence.”
“It's shocking how many women are beaten, insulted and raped,” the pope says. “The testimonies of the victims who dare to break their silence are a cry for help that we cannot ignore. We must not look the other way.”
“Let us pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded by all.”
The so-called “Pope's Video” explains Pope Francis' specific prayer intention each month. It's an intention he entrusts to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.
Its authors highlight a stunning statistic reported by the UN: “Each day, 137 women are killed by members of their own family; adult women make up nearly half of the victims of human trafficking identified worldwide; and globally, one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point.”
