Pope Francis commenced the New Year by emphasizing the condemnation of violence against women in a homily of a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on the day the Roman Catholic Church marks the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God, which is also the Church's World Day of Peace. Francis has underscored the pivotal role that women play as role models for peace.
The Pope has consistently made appeals in the past for an end to the brutality, however, this is the first time he addresses the vicious killing of 22-year-old university student Giulia Cecchettin in November.
Cecchettin disappeared November 11 when she and ex-boyfriend, Filippo Turetta went shopping for her graduation outfit. The couple mysteriously vanished, but a few days later CCTV footage was released showing Turetta, 22, beating his former girlfriend in a car park close to her home in Vigonovo, near Venice. Her body was later found at the bottom of a ditch.
What Has The Response Been?
Italian lawmakers unanimously supported a series of measures to combat violence against women, following the recent killing that reignited a nationwide discussion on the issue.
According to Italy's interior ministry as reported by BBC, data shows 106 women were killed in Italy last year, and 55 of them allegedly by a partner or ex-partner. Ecumenical News claimed the killing has triggered country-wide protests prompting calls for lessons on how to respect girls become a part of school cirriculum starting at kindergarten level.
Pope Francis spoke to the country amidst heightened emotions and decree for national soul-searching on how to shed a deep-rooted culture of male chauvinism that has often led to femicide. Reuters relayed a crucial quote from the Pope's speech. He said, "Every society needs to accept the gift that is woman, every woman: to respect, defend and esteem women, in the knowledge that whosoever harms a single woman profanes God, who was born of a woman."
"The world, too, needs to look to mothers and to women in order to find peace, to emerge from the spiral of violence and hatred, and once more see things with genuinely human eyes and hearts," he continued.
