“The education of girls is a superpower to combat extreme poverty and I would like to ask His Holiness if she thinks that women and girls have the same powerful role in changing the world and climate change”, thus Good voice urged Pope Francis to the Urbaniana during the meeting with Scholas Occurrentes. The Pope replied yes: “We are talking about the mother-earth, not the father-earth”, he said with a smile, receiving a long applause.
He also added, ironically, “since that time with the apple, they command”, referring to “original sin”.
The young students of Scholas Occurrentes welcomed the Pope with a show of songs and recitals inspired by the protection of the environment. “We need poetry and courage” to care for our common home, we must “defend the harmony of creation and women know more about harmony than we men do,” said the Pope.
The Pontiff arrived for the appointment in a wheelchair, as usual in the last few days due to the knee injury.