Pope Francis on Monday expressed his hope women enslaved to the “arrogance of the powerful” will be allowed to have a life of “peace, justice, and love.” The Holy Father was speaking during his Angelus address for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

“The Assumption of Mary is a great mystery that pertains to all of us, regarding our future;” Pope Francis said. “The exultation of this humble girl from Galilee, expressed in the canticle of the Magnificat, becomes the song of all mankind, who is pleased to see the Lord reach down to all men and all women, lowly creatures, and take them with him in into heaven,” the Pope said.

“The Canticle of Mary also leads us to think about many actual sad situations, in particular those women overwhelmed by the weight of life and the drama of violence; of women who are slaves to the arrogance of the powerful; the girls forced into inhumane work; the women forced to surrender in both body and spirit to the avarice of men,” Pope Francis said. “May they as soon as possible begin a life of peace, justice, and love: waiting for the day when they finally feel grasped by hands that do not humiliate; but with tenderness that will lift them up and guide them on the road of life, and on to heaven.” he continued.

“Mary, a woman – a young girl – who has suffered so much in her life, makes us think of these women who suffer so much,” – the Pope said – “And we ask the Lord that He at the same time lead them by the hand along life’s path, and free them from this slavery.”

On Friday, as part of his ‘Friday of Mercy’ gestures during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis visited a refugee centre in Rome housing women rescued from prostitution.

The home is run by the Pope John the 23rd community. During his visit, Pope Francis met 20 women rescued from the sex trade who were trafficked from their countries of origin that included Romania, Albania, Nigeria, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Italy. All of the women were the victims of severe physical abuse during their ordeal and are living under protection.

A statement from the Holy See Press office said the Pope’s visit to this refugee centre is another reminder of the need to fight against human trafficking, which the Pope has described as “a crime against humanity” and “an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ”.