By breaking the tradition and opening a new door in the synodal process, Pope Francis appointed a woman, Nathalie Becquart, a member of the Xavière Sisters, missionaries of Jesus Christ, in France as one of two new vice-secretaries of the synod of bishops. As such, she has the right to vote in the synod. This is the first time that this right has been given to a woman in the synod, and it brings the prospect that the right to future synods can be extended to other female participants.
Some have questioned whether Sister Nathalie will have the right to vote at the synod, but sources contacted by America point to two reasons for confirming this. First, the apostolic constitution “Episcopalis Communio”, promulgated by Pope Francis on September 15, 2018, reads, “The General Secretary and the Secretary are appointed by the Roman Pope and are members of the Synod Assembly” (Art. 22, No. 3). The members have the right to vote. Second, Cardinal Mario Grech, the general secretary of the synod, speaks of her in an interview with Vatican News in Italian.possibility to participate with the right to vote, “Which is properly translated into English means” she may participate with voting rights. “
As the other secretary of the synod, Pope Francis appointed a Spanish priest, Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, the assistant general of the Augustinian order and appointed him bishop.
Pope Francis’ appointment of Sister Nathalie to this post is further confirmation of his determination to appoint women to senior positions in the Vatican that require no priestly ordination. In commenting on this appointment, Cardinal Grech recalls that “many synodal fathers during the last synods stressed the need for the whole Church to reflect on the place and role of women within the Church.” He said that Pope Francis regularly “emphasized the importance of women being more involved in the processes of discernment and decision-making in the church” and that the number of women attending the synods as experts or auditors had increased.
By breaking the tradition and opening a new door in the synodal process, Pope Francis appointed a woman, Sister Nathalie Becquart, as one of two new secretaries of the Synod of Bishops.
It is significant that Cardinal Grech said: ‘With the appointment of Sr Nathalie Becquart, and the possibility that she can participate with the right to vote, a door is open. We will then see what other steps can be taken in the future. This indicates that the possibility of having women vote in future synods is being considered. This is something that has been requested for some time, among others by various cardinals, bishops and other synod participants.
Cardinal Grech added: ‘The appointment of Sr. Nathalie Becquart as Vice-Secretary will therefore help us to remember in a concrete way that the voice of the people of God has a specific place in this synodal way and that it is important to find ways to encourage the effective participation of all the baptized in this way. ”
“This perspective characterized the way in which Pope Francis interpreted the Synod throughout its pontifica,” he said.
On the appointment of Father Luis Marín de San Martín, the cardinal said: ‘He has extensive experience in guiding communities in decision-making processes and his knowledge of the Second Vatican Council will be precious, so that the roots of the synodal path will always remain present. ”
‘With the appointment of Sr Nathalie Becquart, and the possibility that she will participate with the right to vote, a door is open. We will then see what other steps can be taken in the future. ”
“The fact that both sub-secretaries are religious, and each has fallen into a specific spirituality, says how important it is that the synodal church also takes into account the different charismas in the church,” Cardinal Grech said. In addition, he said: ‘these nominations emphasize the importance of guiding the journey of a synodal church through a working group: the structure and operation of the General Secretariat must itself be synodal! By working together as a team, the laymen can give greater participation in the dynamics of responsibility. ‘
The cardinal drew attention to the fact that ‘synodality’ is the theme for the next synod of bishops to be held in October 2022.
Both new appointments have impressive curriculum vitae as outlined by Vatican Media.
Sister Becquart was born in 1969 in Fontainebleau, France. She holds a master’s degree in management from HEC Paris, studies philosophy and theology at the Center Sévres of Paris and sociology at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) and specializes in ecclesiology at Boston College, with research on synodality. While working as a volunteer teacher in Beirut, Lebanon, she took courses in philosophy and theology at St. Joseph Jesuit University. After working as a consultant for a marketing and advertising agency for non-governmental organizations and Christian groups in Paris in 1995, she joined the Xavières sisters, a religious congregation rooted in Ignatian spirituality.
Since then she has worked in various roles, including spiritual director for the Ignatian Youth Network in France, national coordinator of a French reconnaissance program for youth in poor urban areas and director of the National Service for the Evangelism of Youth and for Professions at the French Bishops’ Conference of September 2012 to August 2018. She serves as part of the preparatory team for the synod on youth and was an auditor at the synod. Since then, she has been following the Vatican’s Sabbath programs at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
The chosen bishop Marín de San Martín was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1961. He joined the Order of St. Augustine and after studying philosophy and theology in the Seminario Mayor Tagaste in Madrid, he was ordained a priest in 1988. He obtained a license in spiritual theology and a doctorate in theology, with a dissertation on the ecclesiology of St. John XXIII, from Comillas University, Madrid. He also holds a license in dogmatic theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He did congregational ministry for several years, was director of Augustine theological studies in Tagaste (1995–99) and as provincial counselor for the Augustinian province of Spain. From 2009 to 2013, he was secretary of the Augustinian Historical Institute. Since 2004 he has been lecturing at the theological faculty of the Norte de España. Since 2008 he has served as General Archivist of the Order of St. Augustine and since 2013 as Assistant General of the Augustine Order and President of the Augustinian Institute of Spirituality.