Pope Francis has not only spoken about women during his six-year pontificate, but made concrete actions to include and appoint them to positions in the Church more than any pope ever before.
In his Apostolic Exhoration, Evangelii Gaudium, he states “we need to create still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.” (103) He has begun to set the groundwork by electing women to undersecretary roles, that could pave the way for more important positions in the future.
Vatican culture slowly seems to be changing. While years ago it was unimaginable that a lay woman could address every bishop from global Episcopal Conferences, now it is a reality.
Senior Vatican Journalist Valentina Alazraki is an example of a women chosen to speak to bishops on one of the most serious issues of the times: sexual abuse.
VALENTINA ALAZRAKI
Televisa Correspondent
“It's important that there are more women in positions to make decisions. The pope has seen that women's point of view adds a richness to the Church and can even resolve many problems in today's Church.”
Coming back on the papal plane from WYD Brazil, a few months after being elected pope, Francis spoke on this theme.
POPE FRANCIS
WYD BRAZIL July 28, 2013
“A Church without women is like the college of the Apostles without Mary. The role of women in the Church is not simply that of maternity, being mothers, but much greater: it is precisely to be the icon of the Virgin, of Our Lady; what helps make the Church grow!”
VALENTINA ALAZRAKI
Televisa Correspondent
“In his vision of women, there is more. She is a bride, a mother, a worker, but above all, the person responsible for passing on the faith.”
Pope Francis has also mentioned this transmission of faith, in Paraguay and when he spoke to Ukrainian women in Rome.
POPE FRANCIS
Jan. 29, 2018
'Behind each one of you there is a mother, a grandmother, who has transmitted the faith.”
Valentina explains another common theme is his view of the Church as not only female, as She is, but as a mother.
POPE FRANCIS
May 21, 2018
“The important thing is that the Church be a woman, that has this attitude of a bride and of a mother. When we forget this, it is a masculine Church. Without this dimension, it sadly becomes a church of old bachelors, who live in this isolation, incapable of love, incapable of fecundity.”
Valentina believes women have the power to change the Church for the better. Pope Francis also seems to be an advocate for greater respect and honor.
VALENTINA ALAZRAKI
Televisa Correspondent
“He always asks for a change of mind, which is the most difficult. You can't only put women in important positions where they can make decisions, but you must change the mindset of men, both inside and outside the Church.”
Pope Francis has often spoken of the chauvinistic lifestyle, popular in many cultures, and how women suffer under this. He wants to highlight women's compatible nature to that of men, bringing their femininity, gentleness and compassion into important positions both in the Church and the world.
Melissa Butz
