In 2023, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was a delegate to a world meeting of bishops, convened by Pope Francis, when dialogue turned as to if ladies may function deacons.
The cardinal was not supportive. “Clericalizing ladies,” he stated, wouldn’t “essentially” resolve issues within the church — and will maybe create new ones.
“It isn’t so simple as saying that, ‘You realize, at this stage we’re going to vary the custom of the Church after 2,000 years on any a type of factors,’” he stated, in accordance with The Catholic Information Company.
Now, as Pope Leo XIV, he’s positive to face extra questions on ladies’s position within the church. In his years as a Vatican administrator and as a bishop in Latin America, he seems to have adopted the lead of Francis, who expanded their position, however solely up to some extent.
Within the Vatican, Cardinal Prevost ran the workplace that vets, selects and oversees bishops. He endorsed Francis’ efforts to offer ladies new management roles, together with within the workplace that the cardinal led.
The involvement of girls had made “a noticeable distinction, if you’ll, I believe a really tremendous addition” to the workplace, Cardinal Prevost informed The Catholic Information Service in 2023.
Those that knew Leo when he was a bishop in Chiclayo, Peru, say he additionally supported management roles for lay ladies in social organizations.
Earlier than Bishop Prevost arrived in Chiclayo, the diocese had been led for practically half a century by extra conservative bishops from the Roman Catholic group Opus Dei. A neighborhood priest, the Rev. Pedro Vásquez, stated by cellphone that Bishop Prevost had helped result in change, slowly, for women and girls.
Yolanda Díaz, a instructor within the Chiclayo diocese who helped lead a gaggle that assisted migrants and trafficking victims, additionally stated that Bishop Prevost had expanded the position of girls.
“Little by little the church has allowed us some involvement,” she stated by cellphone. “There’s a group of girls main social pastoral work right here.”
Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.
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