Pope Leo XIV Responds to a Woman's Letter 'Never Underestimate Violence Against Women; Report it Without Fear'
Pope Leo XIV: 'Never Underestimate Violence Against Women; Report it Without Fear'
In a poignant exchange published on March 8, International Women’s Day, Pope Leo XIV addressed the scourge of femicide and domestic abuse. Responding to a letter in the magazine Piazza San Pietro, the Pontiff called for a unified front between the Church, schools, and families to dismantle a "culture of domination" and replace it with one of profound respect.
A Plea from the Heart
The dialogue began with a letter from Giovanna, a reader in Rome, who wrote “with tearful eyes” regarding the frequency with which a woman's choice to love or start a family becomes “a trap.” She questioned the brutal nature of modern domestic violence:
“Why? How can we today explain the violence, now far too frequent and painful, that so many men use against the women they say they love? Even to the point of killing them. Brutally, with hatred, as if they were guilty of no longer loving them.”
The Pope’s Reflection: "Feminine Genius" vs. "Violent Thinking"
Pope Leo XIV expressed a sense of “great suffering” regarding “violence in relationships, and especially violence against women.” Drawing on the teachings of Saint John Paul II, he emphasized the importance of “the feminine genius,” noting that it is more necessary than ever in “a world often dominated by violent thinking."
The Pope argued that women are often targeted precisely because of the virtues they embody:
A Sign of Contradiction: Women are “protagonists and creators of a culture of care and fraternity that is indispensable for giving a future and dignity to all humanity.” * The Targets of Hatred: They may be “struck and killed” because they represent “values of faith, freedom, equality, generativity, hope, solidarity, and justice” in a society that is “confused, uncertain and violent.”
Breaking the Silence
The Pope issued a stern warning against the normalization of abuse, stating that “violence, any violence, is the frontier that divides civilization from barbarism.” He urged victims and witnesses to take action:
One must never underestimate an act of violence and must not be afraid to report it, including those places that minimize it or deny responsibility.
An Educational Alliance
Responding to Giovanna’s call for a partnership between the Church and the education system, Leo XIV agreed that a ground-up approach is the only way to shift the cultural needle. Giovanna asked:
“Who else, if not school and Church, can help the new generations by spreading a culture of respect, love, and above all freedom? A message that teaches people not to consider a woman as an object to possess…”
The Pope reaffirmed this necessity for an “ever stronger educational alliance,” writing that “walking together in mutual respect for our shared humanity is not a dream, but the only possible reality for building a world of light for everyone.”
A Call to Action
The Pontiff concluded by stressing that the formation of young people is the primary tool for change. He challenged society to “open everyone’s hearts to say that every person is a human being who deserves respect.”
“We must eliminate this violence and seek ways to shape our mindset. We must be people of peace who care for everyone.”
Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-03/pope-never-underestimate-violence-against-women.html
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