Pope Francis launches second phase of major reform initiative for the Catholic Church

Photo : AP

Pope Francis opened the second phase of his ambitious reform of the Catholic Church on Wednesday, with one of the most pressing issues on the agenda being the increased involvement of women in leadership roles within the church. While many are advocating for a more inclusive church, the possibility of ordaining women to the ministry remains off the table.

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The reform process began with a Mass at St. Peter’s Square, where Pope Francis presided over the gathering of 368 bishops and lay representatives who will meet behind closed doors for the next three weeks. This event marks a critical stage of the synod, a series of meetings designed to shape the future of the Catholic Church and make it more responsive to the needs of its followers. 

Despite the wide-ranging topics on the agenda, some of the most contentious issues that were raised during the first phase of the synod last year, such as the church’s stance on LGBTQ+ Catholics and the possibility of women becoming deacons, have been deferred to separate study groups. These topics will be discussed alongside the main synod but will not form part of its official conclusions at this stage, raising questions about the immediate outcomes of this phase of the reform process.

The synod, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, aims to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, participatory, and open to the voices of ordinary believers. The extensive consultation with Catholics worldwide has sparked hope among many that the church is on the verge of significant change, but it has also stirred fears among more conservative members that long-standing traditions could be under threat.

In his opening address, Pope Francis called on the synod's participants to set aside personal agendas and truly listen to one another in order to “give life to something new.” He warned against becoming entrenched in long-held positions, saying: "Otherwise, we will end up locking ourselves into dialogues among the deaf, where participants seek to advance their own causes or agendas without listening to others and, above all, without listening to the voice of the Lord.”

One of the key findings from the first phase of the synod was the “urgent” need to increase the involvement of women in leadership roles within the church. Although the idea of ordaining women as deacons remains under consideration by separate theological study groups, it is not part of the current synod's official discussions. 

Deacons, who can preside over certain sacraments such as baptisms and weddings but cannot celebrate Mass, play a vital role in the church. Many advocates argue that allowing women to serve as deacons would help address the growing shortage of priests and elevate the status of women within the church. Women already play a crucial role in the church’s educational, pastoral, and caregiving responsibilities, and some see their exclusion from ordained ministry as a form of discrimination.

Opponents of women becoming deacons, however, fear it could lead to a push for women to enter the priesthood. The Catholic Church has long maintained that the priesthood is reserved for men, based on the argument that Jesus chose only men as his apostles. Pope Francis has repeatedly reaffirmed this position and, just days before the synod, sharply criticized calls for women to be ordained as deacons, describing them as attempts to "make women masculine."

This stance has angered some proponents of women’s ordination, who argue that the church’s refusal to consider female deacons perpetuates sexism. Miriam Duignan, a trustee at the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, criticized the pope’s comments as dismissive and patronizing. She said: “He is putting a spiritual stamp of approval on sexism. It is so irresponsible and dangerous for him to constantly criticize, belittle, dismiss, and demonize women who are just saying ‘Stop lying. Stop hiding and stop trying to relegate us to second-class citizenship.’”

In addition to the debate over women’s ordination, the synod will discuss proposals to give women greater responsibility in other areas, such as roles in seminaries and church courts. Currently, 85 women are taking part in the synod, with 54 of them having the right to vote.

Among the 368 participants, Pope Francis personally appointed a number of key figures, including two bishops from mainland China and several of his closest advisors. Notably, one of the participants is Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, the former head of the Vatican’s doctrine office, who has been a vocal critic of Pope Francis and the synod process. In a recent essay, Mueller criticized the direction of the synod, accusing it of aligning with “woke and gender ideology” under the guise of Christianity.

The synod is also tackling the church's approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics. While Pope Francis has expressed sympathy for this community, some conservative members remain resistant to a more pastoral approach. Father James Martin, an American Jesuit known for his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, is among the synod’s participants. He has previously found support from Pope Francis, particularly in the wake of the pope’s decision to approve same-sex blessings after the first phase of the synod concluded.

Father Timothy Radcliffe, a spiritual guide for the synod, has also called for a more compassionate stance towards LGBTQ+ Catholics, arguing that the church must fight for their dignity and rights, particularly in countries where they face persecution. However, he also acknowledged the perspectives of those in the church who view the acceptance of gay people as evidence of Western decadence, stressing the importance of understanding both sides of the debate.

As the synod progresses, it is expected to produce a final set of recommendations for Pope Francis by the end of October. While some issues remain unresolved, the discussions represent a critical moment for the Catholic Church as it grapples with how to modernize and meet the needs of its followers while maintaining its core teachings and traditions.