The role of women is also a key test for the Italian Synod

The responsibility of women in ecclesial and pastoral settings was among the priorities highlighted by the second Assembly of the Italian Synodal Path, held in Rome from March 31 to April 3. Few were surprised. The issue of women appears both on a national and universal level, to be a litmus test for the Church’s concrete ability to walk together, even amidst the diversity of roles and charisms.

From the very beginning of the listening phase, from north to south throughout the Italian peninsula there is an immense need to truly recognize the full dignity of baptized women emerged. In addition, there is the call to include women in decision-making spaces from which they are still too often marginalized. The Synodal Path has sought to give some concrete signs with the appointment of at least one female delegate per diocese; with six women out of 23 members of the presidential group; 40 out of 100 members of the Committee; and with women making up one third of the participants in both Assemblies. In particular, during the second and -at least in theory- final Assembly in April, the debate on the role of women was passionate and lively. The “Proposition” on the issue was deemed by the majority of attendees to be too reductive compared to the wealth of reflection that had emerged over the four years of work, throughout the rest of the text.

However, over the course of the meeting, the initial palpable non placet (disagreement) toward the document shifted into an undisputed placet (approval). This ‘shift’ came about thanks to the process’ ability to engage with conflict and criticism without becoming bogged down in it. The tone of the Assembly, which was frank yet composed as it resounded in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, pushed the bishops to reflect. Rather than digging in their heels, they sought to discern whether that discomfort contained a breath of the Spirit.  Thus, what emerged was to give the process another six months to globally revise the document, the vote of which has been postponed to October 25. This unexpected proposal made by the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) was approved almost unanimously. In the meantime, and in an exceptional move, the CEI has canceled its traditional May meeting, which has been rescheduled for November.

In a time dominated by hyper-masculine leaders who wield their mandate like a club against minorities -and sometimes even majorities too- the Church offers a witness of an entirely different kind. Instead of “macho power”, the designated leaders have chosen the authority of those who know how to imagine and build bridges to overcome the walls of polarization. This creativity is typical of the feminine paradigm, and of the Synodal process. Once again, Women and synodality are on the same path.   

By Lucia Capuzzi
A journalist for the Italian national daily newspaper “Avvenire”, and a member of the Presidency of the Committee for Italian Church’s Synodal Path