Will Vatican approve Women's Ordination?

 

Pope Francis has opposed the controversial issue of women's ordination in the Roman Catholic Church. 

 

On October 24, 2023 (local time), the Pope mentioned women's ordination in a newly released book, stating that "the ordination of women is a theological issue" and that "the role of women in the Church is crucial, but women cannot enter the priesthood."

 

The Pope explained that women could not become a priest, not because of the principle that St. Peter, a man, held the keys to the kingdom of heaven, but because of the direction of the importance of the Virgin Mary, who emphasized the importance of being a mother and a woman. 

 

The Pope acknowledged that the Church needs to adapt to the changing times and the evolving roles of women, but doctrinally, women cannot become priests. His stance has been met with resistance within the Roman Catholic Church, especially by those advocating for progress.

 

In early October, one of the key topics at the Synod of Bishops, a gathering of high-ranking Catholic clergy from around the world at the Vatican, is the issue of women's ordination. This synod also discusses priestly celibacy, blessings for same-sex marriages, and blessings for divorced and remarried Catholics.

 

The Pope did not explicitly oppose granting women the acolyte ministry, a prerequisite for the priesthood and the lowest rank among Catholic clergy. 

 

He established a commission to study the possibility of women serving as acolytes in 2016. The Vatican continues to engage in theological research and work on this topic.

 

Regarding abolishing the celibacy requirement for priests, the Pope said he would leave the decision to the next Pope. He disagreed with the view that ending priestly celibacy would address the current shortage of priests in the Roman Catholic Church.

 

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