During a mass on Friday in the central Colombian city of Villavicencio, Pope Francis deplored violence and "patriarchal and sexist' attitudes towards women.
"Pschological, verbal and physical violence towards women is evident," Francis said as he celebrated mass before an estimated 700,000 people including indigenous Colombians.
"In a society where we are still dragged down by patriarchal and sexist attitudes, it should be stressed that the Gospel teaches how women have set trends and made history," the pontiff stated.
Villavicencio is the second stop on the Pope's five-day visit to Colombia aimed at consolidating the peace process after five decades of bloody conflict between government forces and left-wing rebels that was sparked by entrenched inequality.
"I hope that reconciliation will not remain just an abstract word," Francis told Colombians at the mass in Villavicencio.
"Reconciling means opening a door to all those who have experienced the dramatic reality of conflict," he said.
"Every attempt at peace that is made without a sincere commitment to reconciliation is always a failure," Francis warned.
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