Women Could Have Greater Role in Church, Says Pope
Some Vatican experts have raised the possibility of the pope appointing women to senior positions in the Vatican bureaucracy, perhaps as the head of one of its powerful departments.
But the pope suggested even bigger changes could be in store, with a senior cardinal now consulting female experts in considering possible options.
“Women must have a greater presence in the decision-making areas of the church,” he said. “But I would call this a ‘functional’ promotion. That won’t take us very far.”
Some church leaders advocate making women deacons, ordained ministers who can participate in the Mass and perform other duties, although the pope made no reference to such a possibility.