VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis said he plans to appoint two women to the traditionally male dominated, clergy heavy Vatican committee for selecting bishops, in a July 2 interview with Reuters.
“I am open to giving (women) a chance,” Francis said, after being asked by the news agency about his plans to further promote the role of women at the Vatican. “Two women will be appointed for the first time to the committee to choose bishops in the Congregation for Bishops,” he said.
“This way, things are opening up a bit,” the pope added.
In his new apostolic constitution, “Praedicate Evangelium,” the Latin phrase for Preach the Gospel, Francis enshrined his vision for Vatican reform. The offices and departments that make up the Roman Curia can now be headed by any faithful, provided they have the competence and regardless of whether or not they are ordained.
In the wide-ranging interview, Francis said he believes a lay person may one day be in charge of the Vatican departments for education, culture and the Apostolic Library.
The pope did not announce the names of the women he intends to appoint to the committee for bishops, nor did he give a timeline of when they will step in.
A nun is already on the staff of the department for bishops, but the two women would be a part of the committee that analyzes and then votes on the recommendations for bishops sent by Vatican envoys all over the world. The committee has historically only included bishops or cardinals, with priests acting as consulters.
The last word on the appointment of bishops remains in the hands of the pope after he is presented with the committee’s proposal.
Pope Francis’ effort to make the Vatican less male dominated and less clerical have been mostly welcomed by Catholics worldwide. Under his pontificate, there has been a surge in the number of women occupying influential positions at the Vatican.
Sister Raffaella Petrini is currently the highest-ranking woman at the Vatican after Francis appointed her secretary-general of the Governorate of the Vatican City State in 2021. Sister Nathalie Becquart is the first female undersecretary for the Synod, which organizes the Vatican’s summit of bishops to discuss the most pressing topics in the church. Sister Alessandra Smerilli is the secretary of the Department for Integral Human Development, which helps the pope in his efforts to promote migrants and the environment.
