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Pope quotes bring hopes for single blokes

The Pope has been quoted telling mums to “stop ironing shirts” for their sons so they can get married.

Pope Francis has put his two cents in on parenting skills, mainly telling mothers not to be overbearing to their single sons.

The Pope was dishing out advice during a Mass service last week in the Vatican that marked the end of the 10th World Meeting of Families.

pope francis pregnant woman
Credit: CNS photo/Paul Haring

One piece of guidance the Pope gave was directed at the Catholic mothers and their sons. Francis said mums should encourage their sons to go and get married. The Pope also said men shouldn’t “take the easy road” by returning to their mothers in “moments of difficulty”.

“We see so many young men who don’t have the courage to get married and mothers often say to me, ‘Do something, speak to my son, who is not getting married and is 37 years old’.

“But Signora, don’t iron his shirts, make the first move by sending him out, let him leave the nest.”

The Pope added that familial love “is not possessive, it’s for freedom always.

And then, in the moments of difficulty, in crises – all families have them – please don’t take the easy road: ‘I’m going back to Mum’.

“No, move ahead with this courageous gamble.

“There will be difficult moments, hard moments, but move ahead, always.”

The pontiff also added a pretty cryptic message in response to the US Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right for a women’s access to abortion.

The Pope condemned the “selfish” decisions that “thwart the desire to bring new lives into the world”.

One could only really interpret that to mean the Pope welcomed the court’s ruling.

He added: “Let us not allow the family to be poisoned by the toxins of selfishness, individualism, today’s culture of indifference and waste, and as a result lose its very DNA, which is the spirit of welcoming and service.”

While Pope Francis has expressed sympathy for women who have had abortions and made it easier for them to be absolved of the apparent sin, he has made it clear that he upholds the church’s teachings opposing abortion.