The Vatican announced on Tuesday that it will produce a document addressing women’s roles in leadership within the Catholic Church, a move aimed at addressing longstanding calls for greater female participation.
This initiative, part of Pope Francis’ broader church reform efforts, will be spearheaded by the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith and comes ahead of a major synod of bishops in October.
Critics, however, including advocates for women’s ordination, have dismissed the forthcoming document as insufficient, arguing that decisions about women’s roles continue to be dominated by ordained men.
The synod process initiated by Pope Francis seeks to make the Church more inclusive and responsive to diverse voices, yet significant issues, such as the role of LGBTQ+ Catholics, remain contentious and unresolved.
