Pope Francis addressed a group of Jesuits in Brussels on September 28, discussing the “changing” role of women within the Catholic Church.
During the meeting at Collège Saint-Michel, attended by about 150 Jesuits from Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, Pope Francis discussed various topics, including women’s participation in church leadership.
On Oct 8, La Civiltà Cattolica released the full text of their meeting. “I often repeat that the Church is woman,” Pope Francis said, explaining his efforts to appoint women to higher responsibilities within the Vatican.
He noted that women now hold significant positions, such as deputy governor of State and deputies in several dicasteries, including those for Integral Human Development, Religious and the Economy.
“In the ‘team’ for the appointment of bishops there are three women,” the Pope added, saying that “things are working better than before” due to their acute judgments.
Pope Francis also shared a conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who told him, “the same way all of us mothers do,” when asked how she handles certain problems.
He concluded by affirming that women are entering roles of high responsibility in the Vatican and that “we will continue on this path.”
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