Pope tells abused mother domestic violence 'nearly satanic'

3 yıl önce

ROME â Pope Francis has denounced domestic violence against woman as ânearly satanicâ and said parents should never slap their children.

Francis made the comments in a televised encounter with an abused woman who recently fled her home with her four children. Their meeting was broadcast late Sunday on the private Mediaset networkâs TG5 program and also included footage of Francis interacting with a homeless woman, a prisoner and a student.

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The abused woman told the pope her story and asked him how she can find her dignity after she and her children suffered so much violence.

Francis, who has previously spoken out about âfemicides,â responded by acknowledging the problem of domestic violence, which regularly makes headlines in Italy.

âFor me the problem is nearly satanic, because itâs about profiting off the weakness of those who canât defend themselves, who can only try to stop the blows,â he said. âItâs humiliating, very humiliating.â

He then added that it was also âhumiliatingâ for a parent to slap a child. âI always say it: Never slap a child in his or her face. Why? Because your face is your dignity.â

Responding directly to the abused womanâs question, Francis told her that she hasnât lost her dignity at all.

âI can sense your dignity. If you had lost your dignity, you wouldnât be here,â he said, urging her to be inspired by the image of the âPieta,â the statue of Mary cradling the crucified Jesus.

âLook at the Madonna, and remember that image of courage,â he said.