Pope Francis has condemned domestic violence against women as “almost satanic”, in some of his strongest language yet on the issue. The head of the Catholic Church made the remark during a programme broadcast on Italy’s TG5 network on Sunday. He spoke to a panel of four people from difficult backgrounds, including a survivor of domestic abuse. He lamented the “very, very high” number of women “who are beaten and abused in their homes.” “The problem is that, for me, it is almost satanic because it is taking advantage of a person who cannot defend herself, who can only [try to] block the blows,” said Pope Francis. “It is humiliating. Very humiliating.” He spoke with a woman named Giovanna who said she had escaped from a violent home with her four children.(BBC)…[+]