By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) – Pope Francis issued a clearion call on Saturday for the end of violence against women. He said it was an insult to God.

Francis, 85 years old, performed a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the day that the Roman Catholic Church celebrates both Holy Mary Mother of God’s solemnity and its annual World Day of Peace.

After an unrelated incident that occurred on New Years Eve, Francis looked in great shape on Saturday. He attended the service but did not take over as expected.

He walked along the whole length of the basilica’s central aisle on Saturday at the beginning of Mass, rather than Friday night when he entered from an adjacent side door and watched from the sidelines.

Francis is suffering from sciatica. This causes him pain in his legs. Sometimes, a flare-up can prevent him from being able to stand for prolonged periods.

Francis centered his New Year’s homily on the theme of Motherhood and Women – claiming that it was women who held together life’s threads – and made one of the strongest pleas for violence against them.

Francis stated, “And because mothers bestow life and women preserve the world together,”

“How many violences are directed at women!” Enough! It is wrong to hurt a women. God took the form of a woman and gave us our humanity.

Last month Francis spoke to a victim of domestic violence in Italy.

Francis has spoken repeatedly against domestic violence since the COVID-19 epidemic began almost two years ago. Lockdowns have left many women entrapped with their abusers, and this has led to an increase in these cases throughout many countries.

Because of COVID limitations, public attendance at Mass was much lower than previous years. Italy, which surrounds Vatican City, reported https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-reports-record-144243-coronavirus-cases-155-deaths-2021-12-31 a record 144,243 coronavirus related cases on Friday and has recently imposed new measures such as an obligation to wear masks outdoors.

Francis, in the last month’s Message to the World Day of Peace, stated that countries should redirect money used on armaments for education and condemned growing military costs at cost of social services.

Heads of states and heads international organizations receive the annual peace message. The pope also gives signed copies to those who visit him at the Vatican in the coming year.