Family-life harmony key to church work for women

Pope Francis has said that women need more “incisive” roles in the Church, albeit positions flexible enough to permit their “special” role in the home.

Addressing an unprecedented Vatican conference on “Women’s Cultures: Equality and Difference”, Francis said that the challenge to find new ways for women to be “full participants in the various areas of social and ecclesial life … can no longer be postponed”.

A “more widespread and incisive female presence” in the Church “is desirable, so that we can see many women involved in pastoral responsibilities, in the accompaniment of persons, families and groups, as well as in theological reflection”, he said.

However, women still hold an “irreplaceable role in the family” and should be able to hold serious roles “in harmony with family life”, he said.

For some participants, the conference – the four-day plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council for Culture – was an opportunity to be heard. Sr Mary Melone, head of the Pontifical Universities Antonianum, told attendees that a woman’s faith is not always considered authoritative. Italian Consolata Sister Eugenia Bonetti said she “dreams of a synod on women by women for women”.

Pope Francis said at his General Audience on Wednesday that “the choice to not have children is selfish”. He said “many” societies in Europe are “depressed …  because they don’t want children, they don’t have children”. He added: “Having more children cannot be automatically viewed as an irresponsible choice … If a generous family of children is viewed as if it were a burden, there is something wrong!”