Papa, mothers: Marry the boys, don't iron their shirts

The 85-year-old head of the Catholic Church, who has never married and has no children, made comments during a mass to mark the end of the 10th World Family Meeting.

Pope said: “We see so many young people who don't have the courage to marry and mothers often tell me something, talk to my son, who's not getting married and he's 37.

But ladies, don't iron the shirt, make the first move to get it out, let it leave the nest”.

In the mass, which was held at the Vatican in Rome over the weekend, the Pope said family love “is not options, it is always about freedom”.

And then, in times of difficulty, in crisis, all families have access, please don't take the easy way: “I'm going back to Mom”, he added, addressing men.

There will be difficult times, difficult times, but keep going, always”