Pope Francis signed the preface to "Women and Ministries in the Synodal Church," written by Cardinals Hollerich and O'Malley and three theologians, including Anglican Bishop Jo Bailey Wells, who participated in the C9 meeting last February. For the Holy Father, "the tragedy of abuse has forced us to open our eyes to the scourge of clericalism, which is a distorted way of exercising power in the Church into which anyone can fall: even lay people and women."
Women, their role and their suffering for the recognition " of what they are and what they do ." Then the ordained ministries, synodality, the drama of abuses that "opened our eyes" to the " scourge " of clericalism and the distorted exercise of power in the Church, even by the laity, even by women themselves.
All these sensitive ecclesial issues are addressed in the preface that Pope Francis signed for the book, “ Women and Ministries in the Synodal Church ,” a ten-handed work written by three theologians and two cardinals: Salesian Sister Linda Pocher, professor of Christology and Mariology at the Auxilium in Rome (who also wrote the introduction); Jo Bailey Wells, bishop of the Church of England and Under-Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; and Giuliva Di Berardino, consecrated woman of the Order of Virgins of the Diocese of Verona, liturgist, professor and leader of courses in spirituality and spiritual exercises. Cardinals Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg and General Rapporteur of the Synod, and Seán Patrick O'Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, also participated in the writing of this book.
Dialogue between authors
This dialogue, in this case virtual, or rather "literary" , is however the fruit of a real dialogue between the authors themselves, as well as with the Pope and the Council of Cardinals during the meeting of the C9 on February 5, 2024. A meeting in which, for the first time since the institution of this body, the three theologians were invited by the Sovereign Pontiff to participate, in order to offer contributions and " provocations ", according to Francis' definition, on the theme of the "role of women in the Church" .
The question is now explored in this new publication, released on July 9. It follows the previous book by Sister Linda Pocher and others, whose title, “ Demasculinizing the Church ,” was inspired by a phrase from the Pope himself.
Church ministries, an important and sensitive subject
In the preface, published in its entirety this Thursday by L'Osservatore Romano, the Pope unfolds his reflection based on one of the key postulates of his pontificate: " reality is more important than the idea ." It is the same principle—and Francis says he is satisfied with it—that guides " the program proposed by Sister Pocher for the formation of the Council of Cardinals on the theme of women in the Church, even with regard to such an important and delicate question as that of ministries in the ecclesial community ."
The drama of abuse
Behind this theme lies " a certain suffering in ecclesial communities regarding the way they understand and live out their ministry." This is not "a new reality ," the Holy Father emphasized, recalling how " the tragedy of abuse has forced us to open our eyes to the scourge of clericalism, which does not only affect ordained ministers, but also a distorted way of exercising power in the Church into which anyone can fall: even the laity, even women ."
" Listening to the suffering and joys of women is certainly a way of opening ourselves to reality ," said Francis.
“Listening to them without judgment or prejudice, we realize that in many places and in many situations, women in the Church suffer precisely from the lack of recognition of what they are and what they do, but also of what they could do and be if only they had the space and the opportunity. The women who suffer the most are often those who are closest, most available, prepared, and ready to serve God and his Kingdom.”
Do not sacrifice reality on the altar of ideas
Pope Francis therefore invites us to look at reality rather than at ideas, in order to avoid falling into the " trap " into which the Church itself has often stumbled during the modern era, namely that of " considering fidelity to ideas more important than attention to reality ."
" However, reality is always greater than the idea, and when our theology falls into the trap of clear and distinct ideas, it inevitably turns into a Procrustean bed, which sacrifices reality, or part of it, on the altar of the idea ," the Holy Father acknowledged. The merit of the volume "Women and Ministries in the Synodal Church" is therefore " not to start from the idea, but from listening to reality, from the wise interpretation of the experience of women in the Church ."
Women in the Instrumentum laboris
The issue of the role of women in the Church has resurfaced in recent days with the publication of the Instrumentum laboris of the second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops next October. Indeed, the basic text for the work of the synod fathers and mothers underlines " the need to better recognize " their charisms and vocations. Women, the text emphasizes, "by virtue of baptism, are in a condition of full equality, receive the same outpouring of gifts of the Spirit and are called to the service of Christ's mission."
Thus continues the Instrumentum laboris, the first change to be made is therefore " that of mentality ", with " a conversion to a vision of relationship, interdependence and reciprocity between women and men, who are sisters and brothers in Christ, with a view to the common mission ".
As for the issue of the female diaconate, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, recalled during the press conference presenting the Instrumentum laboris that it would not be addressed at the next assembly because it was the subject of one of the study groups established by the Pope to deepen theological and pastoral reflection on specific issues. Francis therefore entrusted this issue to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, within the broader context of ministerial forms, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Synod. The work, according to the document on the study groups published in March, will aim to respond to the synodal assembly's desire for " greater recognition and appreciation of the contribution of women and an increase in the pastoral responsibilities entrusted to them in all areas of the Church's life and mission ."