03:06Around 2,000 faithful gathered at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, on Saturday, to attend the Solemnity of Mary mass service, held by Pope Francis.
The feast began with prayers inside the church, followed by a speech in which the pope said "Let us all make greater efforts to promote mothers and to protect women. How much violence is directed against women. Enough. To hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity."
Pope Francis then left the Altar to give a speech from a balcony to thousands of worshippers who were waiting in St. Peter's Square.
"So many are frightened about the future and burdened by social situations, personal problems, the dangers of the ecological crisis, injustices and global economic imbalances," he said. "I think of the young mothers and their children fleeing wars and famine or waiting in refugee camps."
Saturday is also considered World Peace Day by the Catholic Church.
Holy See: Thousands gather in Vatican City for New Year's Day mass
Around 2,000 faithful gathered at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, on Saturday, to attend the Solemnity of Mary mass service, held by Pope Francis.
The feast began with prayers inside the church, followed by a speech in which the pope said "Let us all make greater efforts to promote mothers and to protect women. How much violence is directed against women. Enough. To hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity."
Pope Francis then left the Altar to give a speech from a balcony to thousands of worshippers who were waiting in St. Peter's Square.
"So many are frightened about the future and burdened by social situations, personal problems, the dangers of the ecological crisis, injustices and global economic imbalances," he said. "I think of the young mothers and their children fleeing wars and famine or waiting in refugee camps."
Saturday is also considered World Peace Day by the Catholic Church.
Around 2,000 faithful gathered at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, on Saturday, to attend the Solemnity of Mary mass service, held by Pope Francis.
The feast began with prayers inside the church, followed by a speech in which the pope said "Let us all make greater efforts to promote mothers and to protect women. How much violence is directed against women. Enough. To hurt a woman is to insult God, who from a woman took on our humanity."
Pope Francis then left the Altar to give a speech from a balcony to thousands of worshippers who were waiting in St. Peter's Square.
"So many are frightened about the future and burdened by social situations, personal problems, the dangers of the ecological crisis, injustices and global economic imbalances," he said. "I think of the young mothers and their children fleeing wars and famine or waiting in refugee camps."
Saturday is also considered World Peace Day by the Catholic Church.