“Holy orders is reserved for men.” That's a direct quote from Pope Francis during a recent interview.
He spoke about the topic with journalists to mark the release of the Italian book titled, “You Are Not Alone: Challenges, Answers, Hopes.”
The Pope referred to female ordination as a “theological problem” and when asked about its ability to increase the amount of faithful in the Church, he stated that “Lutherans ordain women, but still few people go to church.”
But Pope Francis also emphasized the irreplacable role of women in the Church. Something he has often spoken about.
POPE FRANCIS
WYD BRAZIL July 28, 2013
A Church without women is like the college of the Apostles without Mary. The role of women in the Church is not simply that of maternity, being mothers, but much greater: it is precisely to be the icon of the Virgin, of Our Lady; what helps make the Church grow!
The question of women ordination has especially been on the forefront lately during the Synod on Synodality. Some members have expressed their opinions on it.
RENÉE KÖHLER-RYAN
Synod member
As a woman, I'm not focused at all on the fact that I'm not a priest. I think that there is too much emphasis placed on this question and what happens when we place too much emphasis on this question is that we forget about what women, for the most part, need throughout the world.
CARD. ROBERT FRANCIS PREVOST
Synod member; Prefect, Dicastery for Bishops
Clericalizing women doesn't necessarily solve a problem and it might make a new problem. And perhaps we need to look at a new understanding or different understanding of leadership, power, authority and service—above all, service.
Throughout his papacy, Francis has repeatedly opened up conversation and research to address this topic. In both 2016 and 2020, he established commissions of theologians, deacons, priests and lay women to study the subject of women deacons. But as of now, the Pope's answer is clear.
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