Pope Francis on Friday expressed solidarity with women, saying that God wants them to be free from oppression and violence and to be esteemed.
"So many women are overwhelmed with the burdens of life and the drama of violence! The Lord wants them to be free and their dignity respected," Francis tweeted.
His tweet marked the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The Pope's nine-language @pontifex account on Twitter now has over 30 million followers.
