Pope Francis encourages increased participation of women in Church
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis earlier today met with participants at a national conference
sponsored by the Italian Women’s Centre, which is due to celebrate the 70th
anniversary of its foundation in October of this year. The Italian Women’s Centre
(Centro Italiano Femminile, or CIF) was set up in 1944 as a federation of Catholic
women’s associations. It was established in response to the need for guidance on civic
and social issues which arose at the end of the Second World War, when Italy introduced
universal suffrage and millions of women were called to vote for the first time ever.
Pope Francis opened his address by giving thanks for the organisation’s work
over the past 70 years and for its value as witness to the changing role of women
within Catholic communities and Italian society as a whole. In recent decades, the
Pope said, within the context of other cultural and societal developments, the role
of women has been greatly transformed, their participation and responsibilities have
increased. It is with great joy, he added, that I see many women sharing pastoral
responsibilities with priests, both in theological reflection and by supporting individuals,
families and communities, and I hope the space for women to contribute incisively
to the life of our Church may continue to increase.
If the contribution of
women to the public or professional sphere is important, Pope Francis went on, their
contribution to family life is even more vital. But at this point, he said, the question
arises naturally – how is it possible for any woman to develop an incisive presence
in the many areas of public and professional life where important decisions are made,
and at the same time to maintain a special presence within the family? This, the Pope
said, is the field of discernment, which requires assiduousness and perseverance in
prayer, as well as reflection on the reality of women within society.
It is
in dialogue with God, Pope Francis concluded, that Christian women must answer his
call – a dialogue which is always supported by Mary. May she – who cherished her divine
son, who propitiated his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, who was present on
Calvary and at Pentecost – show you the path to understanding the role of women within
society.