catholicism

position

• Against gender prejudice – women should be treated equally in society 

• God made man and woman in his image, therefore they should have equal rights 

ministry

• However, as far as the ministry, they cannot be priests 

• They can study the religious texts and teach in theological (studies about God) colleges, they can be extraordinary ministers (people who give out the bread and wine in the Holy Communion) 

• Only men can be ordained. They believe this because all the apostles (followers of Jesus) were men and Jesus left the community in the care of Peter, who is a man 

• They believe that this does not affect the equal status of women because it is a special function of a priest to represent Jesus, and since he was a man, only men can do it 

pope francis

Pope Francis made efforts to promote gender equality within the Catholic Church, including appointing women to higher-level Vatican positions and expanding opportunities for women in leadership roles within the church. While these steps are significant, they represent a starting point, and the pursuit of full equality for women remains a complex and ongoing process

appointments to the vatican

Pope Francis appointed around 20 women to positions of authority in the Vatican, including an Italian religious sister to lead a Vatican department. This is unprecedented in the history of the papacy.  

synod representation

He included women in the 2024 synod (a global meeting of the church) and granted voting rights to women attendees, The Conversation.  

theology + education

• He emphasized the need for more women to study and teach theology, acknowledging that women are unique in their gifts to the church.  

• Focus on Empowerment: 

• Pope Francis prioritized empowering women, recognizing their unique contributions to the church and society, The Conversation