Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals met virtually Oct. 13, discussing the updated draft of a constitution reorganizing the Roman Curia and steps to implement it, the Vatican press office said.
The reality, easily observable, is that most of the service in the church, especially in the form of ministry and teaching, is done by women. The power to decide resides almost exclusively with ordained men.
The three-page memorandum, signed by about 150 women in India, praises Gracias' words in the interview, but asks for "changes in the policies, practices and structures of the Church so that women can participate fully in" leadership.
In an NCR interview, Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias, a member of the pope's Council of Cardinals, called himself a "convert" to the cause of women seeking more opportunities for responsibility in the church.
