Women has been appointed posts that were previously only held by men, marking a notable move forward for the Church.
On Saturday, February 6, Pope Francis appointed Nathalie Becquart, a French member of the Xaviere Missionary Sisters, as co-undersecretary for the Synod of Bishops, a department responsible for preparing major meetings of world bishops, which are held every few years on various topics. Becquart’s position is effectively a joint number two spot, meaning she will have the right to vote in the all-male assemblies, Reuters reports. This is something many women and some bishops have been wanting for some time. Speaking with Vatican News, Becquart said that she felt her appointment signified growing ‘confidence in women in the Church’. She also went on to state that she believed Pope Francis to be listening and responding, marking a step forward for the Catholic Church with ‘women and men together to serve the common good of the world’.
Becquart’s appointment is also notable on account of her age. At 52, she is regarded to be relatively young by the standards of the Vatican.
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