"God created man, male and female, in His image and likeness, giving them both the same dignity and equality: we must work in the Church and in society, to ensure that this equality is respected, rejecting all forms of oppression or injustice, particularly against women".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The difference between man and woman is not for opposition, or subordination, but for communion and creation, always in the image and likeness of God" and "God has entrusted the earth to the covenant of men and women: The failure of this alliance dries up affection in the world and darkens the sky of hope". This means that "we must do much more in favor of women, if we want to restore strength to the reciprocity between men and women", while the so-called gender theory  "the removal of this difference is the problem, not the solution”.

In continuing his catechesis on the family today, Pope Francis addressed "a central aspect of the theme," "that of the great gift that God has given to mankind with the creation of man and woman and with the sacrament of marriage." In his address to 40 thousand people in St. Peter's Square, the Pope highlighted a few points in particular: that "not only is man in himself the image of God, not only is woman in herself the image of God, but also 'man and woman, as a couple, are the image of God "; that the cultural trend that seeks to deny the difference between man and woman "is also an expression of frustration and resignation, which aims to erase sexual difference because it can no longer deal with it”.  Greeting the Arab speaking faithful, the Pope also added - "God created man, male and female, in His image, giving them both the same dignity and equality: we must work in the Church and in society, to ensure that this equality is respected, rejecting all forms of abuse or injustice, particularly against women”.

"As we all know - he began at the beginning of the audience - sexual difference is present in many forms of life, in the long ladder of the living. But only in man and woman, does it carry within it the image and likeness of God: the biblical text repeats this three times in two verses (26-27)! Man and woman are made in the image and likeness of God. This tells us that not only is man in himself the image of God, not only is woman in herself the image of God, but also 'man and woman, as a couple, are the image of God. The difference between man and woman is not for opposition, or subordination, but for communion and creation, always in the image and likeness of God".

"Experience teaches us: to attain self-knowledge and grow harmoniously the human being needs the reciprocity between man and woman. When this does not happen, we see the consequences. We are made to listen to each other and help each other. We can say that without the mutual enrichment inherent in this relationship - in thought and action, in the affections and work, also in faith - the two cannot even fully understand what it means to be a man and woman”.

Today’s contemporary culture has opened new spaces, new freedoms and new depths for the enrichment of the understanding of this difference. But it has also introduced a lot of doubts and skepticism. For example, I wonder if the so-called gender theory is also an expression of frustration and resignation, which aims to erase sexual difference because it can no longer deal with it. Eh, we risk taking a step backwards. The removal of this difference, in fact, is the problem, not the solution. To solve their relationship problems, man and the woman should talk more instead, listen more, know each other more, love each other more. They must treat with respect and cooperate with friendship. With these human bases, supported by the grace of God, one can build a marital and family union for a lifetime. The bond of marriage and family is a serious matter, and it is for everyone, not only for believers. I would urge intellectuals not to desert this theme, as if it had become secondary to a commitment in favor of a freer and more just society".

"God has entrusted the earth to the covenant of men and women: The failure of this alliance dries up affection in the world and darkens the sky of hope. The signs are already worrying, and we see them. I would like to indicate, among many, two points which I believe we must address most urgently. The first. There is no doubt that we must do much more in favor of women, if we want to restore greater strength to the reciprocity between men and women. Women not only need to be listened to more, but their voice must have real weight, recognized authority in the Church and in society.  The very same way in which Jesus considered women - but we say that the Gospel is like that - in a less favorable context than ours, because in those days woman was in second place, right? And Jesus considered [women] in a way that gives a powerful light, which illuminates a far reaching road, of which we have only travelled a short distance. We have yet to explore in depth the things that the feminine genius can give us, things that women can give to society and even to us, who can see things with different eyes that complement the thinking of men. It is a road to be travelled with greater creativity and boldness”.

"A second point concerns the issue of men and women created in the image of God. I wonder if the crisis of public confidence in God, which hurts us so much and sickens us with resignation to disbelief and cynicism, is not also connected to the crisis of the covenant between man and woman. In fact the biblical account, with the large symbolic fresco on the earthly paradise and original sin, tells us precisely that communion with God is reflected in the communion of the human couple and the loss of trust in Heavenly Father generates division and conflict between man and woman . From here comes the great responsibility of the Church, of all believers, and above all the believing families to rediscover the beauty of the Creator’s design that inscribes the image of God even in the covenant between man and woman. The earth is full of harmony and trust when the covenant between man and woman is well lived. And if the man and the woman seek it together with each other and with God, no doubt they will find it. Jesus encourages us explicitly to witness to this beauty that is the image of God".

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