Pope Francis has appointed two nuns and a laywoman to the Vatican department that helps choose new bishops, this is the first time ever women have been selected to serve in the department.
The Holy See Press Office reported that Pope’s appointments to the Dicastery in a statement released on July 13.
The women appointed to the important department are: Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., Sister Yvonne Reugoat, F.M.A, who was the former Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; and Dr. Maria Lia Zervino the President of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations.
The 3 ladies were among the 14 people appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops, this department vets candidates and advises the pope on which priests should become bishops. On the same Wednesday, 11 others (cardinals, bishops and priests) were also appointed.
Pope Francis is keen to achieve gender equality with the Roman Catholic Church’s structures as well as for the positions of responsibility and government.
Pope Francis has in the past called for women to play greater roles within the Vatican leadership and has broken centuries old practice by placing women in some key positions previously held by men only.
It can be remembered that last year, Pope Francis issued a decree to allow women to serve as altar servers, readers at liturgies and distributors of communion but he did not mention whether women will one day serve as priests.
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