Pope Francis has praised ‘the genius’ and ‘equal dignity’ of women, and has lamented the times when some try to discredit these truths or take advantage.
The Holy Father did so this morning, June 9, 2017, to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, June 7-9, 2017, which had as its theme: “The Role of Women in Education Towards Universal Fraternity.”
The works of the dicastery, headed by Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, benefited from the participation of four women.
In his remarks, the Holy Father stressed: «‘There are so, so many women that, in the tasks carried out daily, with dedication and conscientiousness, with courage, at times heroic, have put and put to fruit their genius, their precious traits in the most varied, specific and qualified competencies.»
Reflecting on their chosen theme, Francis focused on three aspects: valuing the role of women, educating in fraternity, and dialogue.
Earlier this week, Cardinal Tauran told Vatican Radio: “women have equal dignity with men and we especially, as Christians, know that we are members of one Body, whose head is Christ, and this gives them parity. As Saint Paul says, before God, there are no slaves or freemen: we are all members of Christ.”
The French prelate added that it was no accident that “the first announcement of Easter was entrusted by Jesus to women, who were the first missionaries,” particularly thinking of the “crisis of the family” today.
“Woman by essence,» he said, «is mother and she has a tenderness, a capacity to listen to look after, to be interested and this is a universal message.” However, she must also have ‘her place in society.'»
“Like men,» Cardinal Tauran underscored, «women are able to have responsibilities; therefore, it is good to know these points of view to have a complete vision of woman, seen in as much as equal to man before God and society.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full Text of Pope’s Address: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-to-plenary-assembly-of-the-pontifical-council-for-interreligious-dialogue/
