In a book preface written by Pope Francis, the Pope emphasised his stance of empowering women and called for equality in diversity, the preface published on Wednesday on the Vatican News website, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
Pope Francis asserted no one gender is superior to the other. He further explained equality is not to be understood as one gender being able to replace the other.
Instead, it should be understood as “the playing field (being) open to all players. It is what economists call efficient diversity,” Pope added.
The Pope referred to how he perceives that women should be given the opportunity to express skills they possess in every sphere, not just within the family. He also called existing pay gap a serious injustice.
Pope Francis referred to the important role education plays in facilitating the needed change of patriarchal cultural. He also pointed how education is needed in order to empower women to face challenges of the world of work.
The Pope also denounced “prejudice against women,” calling it one root of gender-based violence. A transformation towards an envisioned world of peace and inclusion would be reached easier if women enjoyed equal access to opportunities, the Pope said.
“Peace, then, is born of women, it rises and is rekindled by the tenderness of mothers. Therefore, the dream of peace becomes reality when we look to women,” the Pope is quoted to say.
