Faced with the increase in the number of victims during the pandemic, Pope Francis described domestic violence as an act "almost satanic", during an interview on Italian television.
The Sovereign Pontiff also insisted on "the dignity" of the ever-increasing number of victims.
"So many women have been abused and beaten within their own homes, even by their husbands," the Pope said during a special broadcast on Sunday night on the TG5 channel and making him interact with four people on difficult journeys.
"It is a problem which, in my eyes, is almost satanic, because it is to take advantage of the weakness of someone who cannot defend himself", added the sovereign pontiff during this special program entitled "François et the invisible ”.
112 women died since January in Italy
“We can only block the blows.
It's humiliating, very humiliating, ”added the Pope during a conversation with a mother victim of violence who had to flee with her children.
But "I see a lot of dignity in you, because if you had lost your dignity, you would not be there", he added.
The number of cases of domestic violence has been multiplied by the health crisis and successive confinements.
Since January, 112 women have been killed in Italy, according to the Interior Ministry, more than half of them by their current or former husband or companion.
The Pope, who celebrated his 85th birthday on Friday, has repeatedly taken a stand against violence against women.
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While the media treatment around these cases has gained momentum, the number of feminicides is still struggling to drop significantly in France.
The authorities identified 146 feminicides in 2019 and 102 in 2020.