Pope denounces violence against women, sexism

Villavicencio (Colombia) Sep 8 (IANS/AKI) Pope Francis on Friday deplored violence and "patriarchal and sexist attitudes towards women.

"Pschological verbal and physical violence towards women is evident " said the Pope who is currently visiting Colombia as he celebrated mass before an estimated 700 000 people including indigenous Colombians in the South American nation s central city of Villavicencio.

"In a society where we are still dragged down by patriarchal and sexist attitudes it should be stressed that the Gospel teaches how women have set trends and made history " the pontiff stated.

Villavicencio is the second stop on the Pope s five-day visit to Colombia aimed at consolidating the peace process after five decades of bloody conflict between government forces and left-wing rebels that was sparked by entrenched inequality.

"I hope that reconciliation will not remain just an abstract word " Francis told Colombians at the mass.

"Reconciling means opening a door to all those who have experienced the dramatic reality of conflict. Every attempt at peace that is made without a sincere commitment to reconciliation is always a failure " he warned.

--IANS/AKI
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