The Role of Women Gains Prominence as Pope Francis Inaugurates Landmark Vatican Summit on the Church’s Future

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Several years prior, Pope Francis encouraged the leader of the foremost Vatican-affiliated Catholic women’s group to be audacious in advocating for gender equality within the Catholic Church. Maria Lia Zervino heeded this call and, in 2021, penned and publicly released a letter to Francis. She unambiguously stated that the Catholic Church has significant obligations toward women, who should be granted meaningful participation in decision-making processes within the Church, rather than serving as mere symbolic figures.

This week, Pope Francis will convene a seminal meeting involving Catholic bishops and laypeople to discuss the Church’s future direction. Remarkably, the role of women, both their perspectives and their voting rights, will be featured prominently for the first time.

For Zervino, who previously collaborated with the then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the Argentine bishops’ conference, the summit serves as a pivotal juncture for the Church. She believes it is likely one of the most impactful initiatives Francis will have implemented during his papacy.

“More than just the events transpiring this October in Rome, this signifies a transformative way of being a church,” Zervino recently commented in an interview at her Vatican offices. “For women, this represents a significant advancement.”

Women have historically voiced grievances about their subordinate status within the Church, being excluded from the priesthood and higher echelons of authority, despite bearing the majority of the Church’s operational responsibilities. They have consistently called for increased representation, not merely the ability to vote in synodal deliberations but also to lead congregations and potentially enter the priesthood.

The upcoming three-week synod aims to create a more balanced platform for debating critical issues, including the roles of women, LGBTQ+ members, and the question of priestly celibacy. This meeting is the culmination of an unparalleled two-year consultation process involving everyday Catholics, offering their expectations and hopes for the Church’s future.

The possibility that these deliberative sessions could yield substantive change on previously untouchable topics has generated optimism among progressive Catholics and women. However, it has also elicited apprehensions from conservative factions, some of whom caution that these discussions could lead to divisive outcomes.

American Cardinal Raymond Burke, a known critic of Pope Francis, recently articulated concerns that the synod’s novel approach could significantly alter the Church’s longstanding doctrines, aligning them with modern ideologies that are at odds with traditional teachings.

While Vatican synods have been a longstanding practice, the current edition is groundbreaking in its thematic scope and inclusiveness. It is designed to foster a more inclusive and mission-focused Church for the 21st century, and, for the first time, it allows women and other laypeople voting rights alongside bishops.

However, it’s worth noting that of the 365 voting members, only 54 are women. Despite this, the meeting aims for consensus rather than a parliamentary-style vote count, especially since the October session is primarily designed to produce a synthesizing document.

This voting change is nonetheless a significant materialization of Pope Francis’ vision of a Church that prioritizes its community over its clerical leaders.

Francis took initial steps toward inclusivity in 2021 by appointing French Sister Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the synod’s organizing secretariat—a position that conferred upon her the right to vote and which had hitherto been occupied solely by men.

Outside the synod chambers, advocacy groups are organizing events, prayer vigils, and protests to amplify the calls for women’s greater roles in church governance.

Zervino’s organization, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations, carried out a survey earlier this year involving Catholics who took part in the synod consultations. While some calls for female priests were registered mainly in North America and Europe, a broader demand was observed for the appointment of female deacons in these areas.

Zervino, recently named by Francis to the Dicastery for Bishops’ membership board—a first for women—indicates that incremental progress like her appointment is vital. She emphasizes that while expectations are high, the steps being taken are foundational for future change.

“For those who envision a distinct ‘before and after’ for the synod, they may be disappointed,” she observes. “But if women recognize the trajectory as the right one and appreciate these foundational steps, disappointment is less likely.”

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Contributions to this report were made by Sebabatso Mosamo, a Big Big News writer, based in Johannesburg.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vatican synod on women’s role

More about Vatican synod on women’s role

• Vatican Official Synod Website
• Pope Francis’ Official Statements on Gender Equality in the Church
• Maria Lia Zervino’s Public Letter to Pope Francis
• Cardinal Raymond Burke’s Critique of the Synod
• Profile of French Sister Nathalie Becquart
• Overview of the Dicastery for Bishops
• History of Vatican Synods
• Women’s Ordination Conference Website
• Discerning Deacons Advocacy Group