Pope says female genital mutilation affronts dignity, must end

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis celebrates a mass to mark the World Day for Consecrated Life in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, February 2, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis condemned female genital mutilation and trafficking of women for prostitution on Sunday, calling them humiliating affronts to women's dignity and urging officials to do everything possible to end both.

"This practice, which is unfortunately common in various parts of the world, humiliates the dignity of a woman and gravely attacks her physical integrity," Francis said, speaking on the U.N. International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).