A Breakthrough From Pope Francis, Elect Two Women To Hold Prestigious Positions In Vatican

Pope Francis greets the people. (Barbara Provenzano / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis has again demonstrated his existence and breakthroughs in the field of gender equality. Last month, he approved of women to serve congregations in the church as liturgical readers, altar ministers, and fellowship distributors.

The pope has now appointed two women to fill those positions in the Vatican that were previously only held by men. The Pope appointed Nathalie Becquart, a member of the Missionaries of Xavierra from France, as Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops last weekend.

This position means Becquart will join the department that prepares for major meetings of bishops around the world, which are held every few years on a different topic. The day before, Francis appointed Italian judge Catia Summaria as the first woman to promote justice at the Vatican Court of Appeal.

At a relatively young age by Vatican standards, he would be in a fairly high position with the right to vote in an all-male Synod assembly. A prestigious position and much in demand.

In the past, women served as observers and consultants at the Synod, without having the right to vote or own on documents sent to the Pope. In 2018, more than 10.000 people signed a petition demanding that women have a voice.

“A door has been opened. We will see what other steps can be taken in the future", Cardinal Synod General Secretary Mario Grech told the official Vatican News website.

While upholding the Church's tradition of prohibiting female priests, Pope Francis has set up a commission to study the history of female deacons in the early centuries of the Catholic Church, responding to calls by women that they are allowed to take on roles today.

Last year, the Pope entrusted six of the seven seats of the Vatican Economic Council to women. They were chosen because they have economic and financial backgrounds, consisting of Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof and Marija Kolak (Germany), Eva Castollo Sanz, Maria Concepcion Osakar Garaicoechea (Spain), and Leslie Jane Ferrar and Ruth Maria Kelly (England).

The Pope has also appointed women deputy foreign minister, director of the Vatican Museum, deputy head of the Vatican Press Office, and four women as members of the council of the Synod of Bishops. Meanwhile, last month, when the Pope allowed women to serve congregations in the church as liturgical readers, altar ministers, and fellowship distributors. The Pope issued a decree called 'Spiritus Domini'.

The edict gave women a separate role from the priesthood, which was all held by men. Nor does it automatically begin the possibility of women being ordained as priests.

Through this decree, the Pope wants to bring stability to public recognition of the role that women have played for the Catholic Church.