The Pope Francisco appointed three women as members of the Dicastery (ministry) for Bishops, a decision in line with Francis’ intention to give greater visibility and leadership for women in the internal structure of the ChurchThe Vatican reported on Wednesday.
Is regarding Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State; Row Yvonne Reungoatformer superior general of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Maria Lia Zervinopresident of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations.
The appointment has been communicated by the Press Office of the Holy See in his daily bulletin of activities that includes the resignations and appointments approved by the pontiff, without offering further details.
Last February, Francisco ascended to Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America to the Argentine Emilce Cuda, until then head of the Office of this same institution, who joined other secretaries, such as the religious Stefania Smerilli in the Dicastery for Integral Human Development or the French Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops .
The Papa has repeatedly reiterated its intention to make women more visible within the Church as part of Francisco’s reforming measures, whose intention is to streamline, modernize and make ecclesiastical institutions more transparent.
The new Constitution “Praedicate Evangelium” (Preach the Gospel) implemented by Francis and which entered into force on June 5 opens the door to a greater presence of laity and women in the administration.
Among the general principles of the document is “the specification that everyone – and therefore also the laity and the faithful lay men and women – can be appointed in government functions of the Roman Curiaby virtue of the vicarious power of the Successor of Peter”.
In addition, the also new dicastery for the Laity, the Family and the Vocation of the new Vatican Curia will have, among its objectives, that of deepen reflection on the relationship between man and woman in their respective specificity, reciprocity, complementarity and equal dignity”.
As well as offering “its contribution to the reflection of the Church on the identity and mission of women and men in the Church and in society, promoting their participation, valuing the peculiarities of women and men, and also elaborating models of leadership functions for women in the Church”, as specified in the document.
