Amid an evolving global dialogue about gender roles, Pope Francis has recently intensified discussions around the involvement of women in the Catholic Church, a topic that resonates deeply through the ongoing global Synod on Synodality, slated from 2021 to 2024.
At a significant November gathering of the International Theological Commission—an advisory group to the Vatican’s doctrinal office that has included women since 2004—the Pope delivered an impromptu but powerful message about the church’s gender dynamics.
Addressing the underrepresentation of women, with only five out of more than 30 theologians being female, he emphasized, “The church is woman,” a declaration highlighting his concern over the historic ‘masculinizing’ of church roles and narratives. This sentiment laid the groundwork for his call to “demasculinize the church,” urging a reevaluation of the role women play within its framework.
This push aligns with the Pope’s presentation to the Council of Cardinals, where he invited expert theologians, including two women, to discuss women’s roles in the church. Though the proceedings remain confidential, public statements have underscored a collective agreement on the necessity of integrating women’s perspectives into church decision-making processes, enhancing both reflection and action within ecclesiastical ranks.
A pivotal moment came during the October 2023 Synod of Bishops meeting in Rome—the first of its kind to include women as full voting members. This historic inclusion sparked a mixture of responses, ranging from welcoming nods to outright dissent, underscoring deep-seated tensions about evolving ecclesiastical roles. Despite some backlash and calls for exclusive clerical assemblies, the synod’s final document flagged the inclusion of women in decision-making and canonical roles as “urgent.”
The Pope’s advocacy goes beyond administrative roles, touching on theological and ministerial dimensions. He delineated two principles underlying the church’s identity—the Petrine, which encompasses the ministerial aspect, and the Marian, reflecting the church’s inherent femininity. The latter, according to Francis, remains underappreciated and underexplored, presenting a significant area for growth.
Francis’s vision extends into the administrative sphere, where he noted that offices headed by women tend to function more effectively. This observation supports his call for broader female participation in areas traditionally dominated by men, including key positions within the Vatican’s hierarchy. Currently, while some women have risen to significant roles within the Vatican City State and the Roman Curia, top leadership positions remain elusive for female appointees.
This movement toward gender inclusivity in the church, however, has met with resistance from various quarters. Critics argue that the church, with a congregation predominantly composed of women, is already sufficiently feminized, and that efforts to ‘demasculinize’ could further alienate men. This critique taps into broader societal debates about masculinity, where figures like Jordan Peterson attract substantial followings by promoting a robust form of masculinity that the mainstream church often appears to lack.
Amid these tensions, the Pope’s stance invites a balanced view of gender roles, advocating for models of masculinity that respect and uphold the dignity of both genders without reverting to outdated stereotypes. He emphasizes the need for the church to maintain its relevance by reflecting on its teachings about gender and actively promoting a dialogue that includes diverse voices within its theological and administrative discussions.
The call for a more inclusive church is not without its complexities and controversies, but it represents a significant step toward redefining the Catholic Church’s approach to gender roles. As the church continues to grapple with these issues, the ongoing synodal process is expected to play a crucial role in shaping how these new dynamics are integrated into the fabric of ecclesiastical life, potentially paving the way for more profound changes in its approach to gender and ministry.
The journey towards a more balanced representation of gender within the Catholic Church is undeniably fraught with challenges, but as Pope Francis’s initiatives suggest, it is also ripe with opportunities for revitalization and greater inclusivity. The outcome of this transformative process remains to be seen, particularly as the church approaches the final assembly of the Synod on Synodality in 2024, which will likely be a defining moment for this ongoing dialogue.
