Pope Francis shared his monthly prayer intention video for April, urging the faithful to pray for women worldwide.
Pope Francis’ Worldwide Prayer Network of the Apostleship of Prayer developed “The Pope Video” initiative in 2016 as a way to spread the Holy Father’s monthly prayer intentions on the challenges humanity faces in a video based format.
Read below the full transcribed prayer intention of Pope Francis, and watch “The Pope Video” for April!
“In many parts of the world, women are treated like the first thing to get rid of.
There are countries where women are forbidden to access aid, open a business, or go to school. In these places, they are subject to laws that make them dress a certain way. And in many countries, genital mutilation is still practiced.
Let us not deprive women of their voice. Let us not rob all these abused women of their voice. They are exploited, marginalized.
In theory, we all agree that men and women have the same dignity as persons. But this does not play out in practice.
Governments need to commit to eliminate discriminatory laws everywhere and to work toward guaranteeing women’s human rights.
Let us respect women. Let us respect their dignity, their basic rights. And if we don’t, our society will not progress.
Let us pray that the dignity and worth of women be recognized in every culture, and for an end to the discrimination they face in various parts of the world.”
Editorial credit: Nancy Bauer / Shutterstock.com
