The pope’s Council of Cardinals has been discussing the role of women in the Church since February, when the cardinals heard and commented on a report by a female theologian.
Pope Francis has asked two commissions to study the question of a female diaconate in the Catholic Church. The second commission was instituted in 2020 following discussion of women deacons during the 2019 Amazon synod.
In addition to the role of women, the cardinals also reflected on the war in Ukraine and its consequences for politics, the Church, and ecumenical relations.
“The Holy Father reported on the various initiatives undertaken by him, the Secretary of State and the Secretariat of State to pursue peace,” the Holy See communique said, noting that the cardinals encouraged the pope to continue “his tireless work for the solution of the ongoing conflict.”
Honduran Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, Germany’s Cardinal Reinhard Marx, U.S. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, and Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu took part in the April 25-27 meeting at the Casa Santa Marta, the pope’s residence.
Cardinal Ambongo spoke about concerns in poorer countries over climate change and asked how the Church can give voice to these in light of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt in November.
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