Women in the Vatican. Governance yes, but not always a voice

The recent appointments of women to top roles in the Vatican have generated great interest and numerous comments. Rightly so. If it is not a revolution, it’s pretty close to one. “They’ve taken power, alright. But do they also have the right to speak?” asks a journalist with a hint of malice. Naturally, one might be inclined to respond. Perhaps they are not always heard, but it cannot be denied that women’s voices are increasingly being heard today in the Church.

Many women teach at the pontifical universities. In 2021, Pope Francis opened the ancient ministry of the electorate to women, modifying the first paragraph of canon 230 of the Code of Canon Law. Therefore, today, women’s names can also be found among those chosen as preachers for spiritual retreats. Governance and speech.

Nevertheless, what about the Word with a capital W? This is no trivial question, and no, it is not just a play on words. In Catholic Sunday services, women can read the Scriptures, but it is the men who proclaim the Good News, while only priests or deacons, in fact, can read the Gospel and deliver the homily. The homily is part of the liturgy itself, and the priest is the sign of Christ in the entire Eucharistic assembly. To preaching in churches is possible for laypeople, but not during Mass, as stated in the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Many Catholics do not understand this, and they made it clear during the consultation that preceded the two sessions of the Synod on Synodality: extending Eucharistic preaching to laypeople, and especially to women, is a recurring request.

Today, women trained in theology must listen to homilies from deacons or priests who may not necessarily be more prepared than they are. For this reason, according to Sister Christine Danel, former superior of the Saverian Sisters and facilitator of the latest Synod, women have internalized a strong prejudice about the value of their own words. 

For others, both men and women, this issue is not a priority. They believe that it is consistent with Christian anthropology for women to only listen during Mass. In a media-driven society where chatter often replaces meaningful discourse, silence seems to hold more value when confronted with the essentials. 

However, if we look at the final document of the last Synod, we read that there is no reason why women should not be able to take on leadership roles in the Church, but we also read that not all baptized individuals should be ministers. 

In short, governance yes, but not always the Word. 

by Romilda Ferrauto

In the photo, Sister Raffaella Petrini, appointed by the Pope as president of the Vatican Governorship starting March 1.