VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis has appointed two women to positions in the Vatican previously held exclusively by men, in conflicting movements that allow women to dominate more empowerment in the Holy See by men.
He appointed Nathalie Becquart, a French member of the Xaviere Missionary Sisters, on Saturday as co-secretary of the Synod of Bishops, a department that prepares large meetings of world bishops held on a different topic each year.
The previous day, Francis had appointed Italian magistrate Catia Summaria as the first female promoter of justice in the Vatican Court of Appeals.
Becquart’s position, in fact a joint seat two, gives her the right to vote in all men’s meetings, something that many women and some bishops have asked for. She is 52, by Vatican standards relatively young.
Women participated as observers and consultants in previous synods, but only ‘synod fathers’, including bishops and specially appointed or elected male representatives, could vote on final documents sent to the pope.
During a synod in 2018, more than 10,000 people signed a petition demanding that women get the vote.
A door was opened. We will see what other steps can be taken in the future, ”Cardinal Mario Grech, the synod’s secretary general, told the official Vatican News website.
While Francis maintained the church’s tradition of banning female priests, he commissioned studies into the history of women deacons in the early centuries of the Catholic Church, and responded to calls from women that they be allowed to play the role today. to take in.
Last year, Francis in a bang appointed six women to senior roles in the council overseeing Vatican finances.
He also appointed women to the positions of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Vatican Museums and Deputy Head of the Vatican Press Office.
Reported by Philip Pullella; Edited by Frances Kerry