The Influence of Women Amplified as Pope Initiates Pivotal Vatican Summit on Church’s Direction

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Several years back, Pope Francis encouraged Maria Lia Zervino, the leader of a significant Vatican-endorsed Catholic women’s group, to courageously advocate for women’s roles within the Catholic Church. Heeding this call, Zervino publicly penned a letter to Francis in 2021, emphatically stating that the church was indebted to women and that their participation should extend beyond symbolic representation to meaningful involvement in church decision-making processes.

Acknowledging these concerns, Pope Francis is inaugurating a worldwide assembly of Catholic bishops and laypeople this week to contemplate the church’s evolving mission and structure. Notably, for the first time, women will play a central role both in discussion and voting.

Zervino, who had professional interactions with Pope Francis when he was still Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, views this assembly as a transformative occasion for the church and possibly one of the most impactful initiatives led by Pope Francis.

“Alterations in the church’s mode of operation signify an unprecedented advancement for women,” Zervino mentioned in a recent dialogue at her Vatican workspace.

Despite their considerable contributions to various church activities such as education, healthcare, and nurturing faith in future generations, women have long felt marginalized within the church’s patriarchal framework. Their calls for increased involvement, ranging from voting rights in synods to ordination as priests, have largely been overlooked, although some have attained notable positions in both the Vatican and worldwide congregations.

The upcoming three-week synod, commencing this Wednesday, is setting a precedent by placing men and women virtually on equal ground to discuss a wide range of agenda items, including women’s roles, LGBTQ+ Catholics, and the issue of priestly celibacy. This synod is the finale of an extensive two-year survey involving ordinary Catholics to gather their aspirations for the church’s future.

The possibility that this synod, along with a subsequent session next year, could usher in transformative changes on previously untouchable subjects has invigorated numerous progressive Catholics and women. However, it has also elicited concerns among conservative factions who worry that this could lead to a schismatic situation within the church.

American Cardinal Raymond Burke, an outspoken critic of Pope Francis, recently expressed that the synod’s emerging vision for the church was radicalizing longstanding religious practices and beliefs.

Historically, Vatican-hosted synods have been thematic, focusing on specific issues like the church’s role in Africa or the Amazon, culminating in proposal votes for papal consideration. This synod is remarkable due to its extensive theme—essentially reimagining a more inclusive, missionary-focused church for the 21st century—and the inclusion of women and laypeople as voting members.

Although only 54 out of 365 voting members are women, the underlying objective is not to tabulate votes like a parliamentary system but to arrive at a consensus. The voting alteration nonetheless represents a substantial move towards realizing Pope Francis’s vision of a church that prioritizes its congregation over its clerical leadership.

Sheila Pires, a synod communications team member from the South African bishops’ conference, commented, “This shift signifies the church’s acknowledgment that it belongs to all baptized individuals. Women are prominently advocating for this change.”

In 2021, Pope Francis took a step towards gender inclusivity by appointing French Sister Nathalie Becquart as the undersecretary of the synod’s organizing committee. This was a post that entitled her to vote and had previously been held exclusively by men.

As the synod unfolds, advocacy groups continue to push for further women’s representation through various activities and events outside the assembly hall. Among these are organizations campaigning for the approval of female deacons, harking back to their presence in the early church, and those advocating for women’s ordination as priests, despite Pope Francis removing the topic from discussion.

Zervino remains hopeful but cautious, noting that although the synod may not meet all expectations, the steps being taken are essential for future progress. “If women can appreciate that we are moving in the right direction, I believe we will not be disenchanted,” she concluded.

Contributions by Sebabatso Mosamo from Johannesburg are acknowledged.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vatican Synod on Women’s Roles

More about Vatican Synod on Women’s Roles

• Vatican Official Website
• Pope Francis’ Public Letters and Speeches
• World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations
• History of Vatican Synods
• Biography of Maria Lia Zervino
• Statements by Cardinal Raymond Burke
• Overview of Women’s Roles in the Catholic Church
• Sheila Pires and the South African bishops’ conference
• Profile of French Sister Nathalie Becquart
• Discerning Deacons: Advocacy for Female Deacons in the Church