Pope Francis made a speech ahead of Women's Day and noted the need to respect and protect women. 

He spoke on Sunday with a sermon in the Iraqi city of Bakhdida which is considered the local center of Christianity, TASS reported.

“I would like to thank all the mothers and women of this country, the brave women who continue to give life despite all the wounds. Women must be respected and protected. They need to be given attention and opportunities,” the pontiff noted

Francis became the first head of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Iraq.