Pope opens door to not only Cardinals but also Bishops voting at Conclave. The next step could well be lay participation on the model of the Synod of Bishops.
Female priesthood and celibacy: Pope Francis' "no" and "maybe".
No to women priests, it is a theological question, no to married priests, the question is disciplinary. Thus Pope Francis addresses two very hot topics in the new interview book You are not alone. Challenges, answers, hopes
The woman "is not entitled to the Petrine principle but rather to the Marian one, which is more important (...) The fact therefore that women do not access ministerial life is not a deprivation, because her place is much more important". This is how Pope Francis addresses the issue of female priesthood in the new interview book You are not alone. Challenges, answers, hopes (Salani). Created by two Argentine journalists, Francesca Ambrogetti and Sergio Rubin, the book was released yesterday in Italy today, in conjunction with the Synod. With a chapter dedicated to the role of women in the Church, which you provoke discussion.
Female priesthood and celibacy: Pope Francis' "no" and "maybe".
As reported in some previews of the book in Repubblica, the female priesthood "is a theological problem". In theory, a woman could be a Cardinal, given that "the Cardinalate is not connected to the sacrament of orders, but rather to the function of advisor to the Pope" declared Bergoglio.
Even if "a Cardinal can elect the pontiff. And the Pope is chosen by the Bishops because he is Bishop of a diocese, he is Bishop of Rome. The important thing therefore is that the electors are Bishops, not Cardinals. In fact, I could issue a decree that changes the requirements for entering the Conclave and allows a Bishop who is not a Cardinal to participate. From a dogmatic point of view there would be no problems. But, clearly, if a woman cannot access the priesthood, much less will she be able to access the episcopate" Pope Francis responded.
"Sacred orders are reserved for men"
The Pope also addresses the question of the possibility of women deacons (he has created two commissions to study the option). “There were different opinions on whether they had the sacrament of orders or not,” explains Bergoglio. «It is not an irrelevant question because sacred orders are reserved for men. Let us remember that the diaconate is the first degree of sacred order in the Catholic Church, followed by the priesthood and finally the episcopate."
Priest celibacy? It can become optional
The Pope was also questioned, and responded, on another issue that causes discussion in society, as well as the Church. And that is compulsory celibacy for priests. On the topic of its possible abolition, Francis is more optimistic. “It is a disciplinary issue, which implies that a Pope could decide that it becomes optional.” That is, it is not a theological question, like the male priesthood. So, it can change: therefore one day priests could get married. “Let my successor arrange it, if he deems it appropriate,” said the Pope.
Between torture and vocation
"It is clear that if one lives it badly, celibacy is torture, it becomes impossible. But it is no less true that if one lives it with the fruitfulness of the ministry he has chosen, it is not only bearable, but also beautiful. It's obvious that a vocation is needed."
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