Pope Francis has told religious sisters to fight back when they are treated unfairly or “reduced to servitude” by men of the Church.

He said in a video message on Feb. 1: “I encourage all consecrated women to discern and choose what is best for their mission in the face of the world’s challenges that we’re experiencing.

“I invite them to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the Church; when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude —at times, by men of the Church.

Pope Francis also asked Catholics to pray in a particular way in the month of February for religious sisters and consecrated women.

Watch the video below.

Let us #PrayTogether for religious sisters and consecrated women, thanking them for their mission and their courage; may they continue to find new responses to the challenges of our times. #PrayerIntention pic.twitter.com/3pX2vJnaNc

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 1, 2022