Pope Francis on the eve of International Women’s Day pointed out the need to respect and protect women. He spoke on Sunday with a sermon in the Iraqi city of Bakhdida (Karakosh), which is considered the local center of Christianity, TASS reports.
“I would like to thank all the mothers and women of this country, the brave women who continue to give life despite all the wounds. Women must be respected and protected. They must be given attention and opportunities,” said the pontiff. However, he mentioned the role of the Mother of God, who “protects from above”.
Francis became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Iraq. Earlier in the city of Mosul, on the square where four churches are located, seriously affected by the hands of extremists from the Islamic State group, he offered up a prayer for all victims of war and terrorism.