A church without religious sisters would be "unthinkable," Pope Francis said, honouring the contributions consecrated men and women make to the Church and society.

"Every consecrated person is a gift to the people of God on pilgrimage," he said Feb. 2, reciting the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis told people gathered in the square: "Think what would happen if there weren't any sisters, if there weren't any sisters in the hospitals, no sisters in the missions, no sisters in the schools.

Think what the Church would be like without sisters – no, that's unthinkable."