ITALY
National Catholic Reporter
Joshua J. McElwee | Jun. 21, 2015
TURIN, ITALY
Pope Francis has again publicly indicated he is not considering appointing women to leadership positions in the nearly all-male Vatican bureaucracy, saying to do so would be to promote a “functionalism” of women’s roles in the Catholic church.
But the pontiff has also indicated an equality in ministry between men and women in the church, saying that all women have the “same work” the Virgin Mary had in receiving the Holy Spirit along with the twelve apostles at Pentecost.
Speaking in a rambling off the cuff address to priests and religious of the Salesians of Don Bosco in this northern Italian city Sunday, the pope said he is often asked: “But don’t you have to make stronger decisions on women in the church?”
“Oh, certainly,” Francis replied to his own question. “But do you think nominating the head of a dicastery will be a strong decision?”
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