Pope Francis has said that the historical role of female deacons needs to be studied and that he will ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) whether such research has been carried out.
At a meeting with heads of women’s religious orders from around the world, the Pope was asked whether he would create an official commission to study whether women could be ordained as deacons.
Female deacons are mentioned in the New Testament by several Church Fathers, and in the documents of the Council of Nicaea, but it is debated whether this role was similar to that of present-day permanent deacons – who officiate at baptisms and weddings, and sometimes preach at Mass.
Pope Francis told the meeting of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) that, on his understanding, the women described as deacons in the New Testament were not ordained in the manner of today’s permanent deacons; rather, they helped when women received full-immersion baptism, or with anointing.
But the Pope said the question is “obscure” and needs more study. He said: “I will ask the [Congregation for the] Doctrine of the Faith to tell me if there are studies on this.” He also said it would be “useful” for a commission to “clarify this”.
In 2001 the International Theological Commission, attached to the CDF, concluded that female deacons in history were not equivalent to permanent deacons.
Pope Francis told the meeting that women could not preach at Mass because the priest is serving in persona Christi.
New Philippines leader to apologise to the Pope
Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte will visit Rome to “ask for forgiveness” from Pope Francis for insulting him during his election campaign.
Duterte’s spokesman said the new president has “repeatedly said he wants to visit the Vatican, win or lose, not only to pay homage to the Pope but he really needs to explain to the Pope and ask for forgiveness.”
Mr Duterte, previously mayor of the southern city of Davao, was elected president last week. Last year he railed against the Pope for causing traffic jams during his visit to Manila, saying: “It took us five hours to get from the hotel to the airport. I asked who was coming. They said it was the Pope. I wanted to call him: ‘Pope, son of a whore, go home. Don’t visit any more.’”
Catholic leaders have been reserved about Mr Duterte. Throughout his campaign, he said he would rid the country of criminals within six months of taking office. At times he said he would do this legally, but at other times he did not include that caveat.
In his last campaign speech Mr Duterte threatened to kill drug-pushers, armed robbers and other “loser” criminals, telling hundreds of thousands of supporters in Manila: “Forget the laws of human rights.”
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro praised calls for “reconciliation and healing” after a bitter election campaign.
During the campaign Archbishop Ledesma highlighted a Human Rights Watch report citing 1,400 media-reported extrajudicial killings in Davao City. The archbishop warned the faithful against supporting a candidate who espoused the “culture of death”.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, bishops’ conference president, said in a pastoral letter issued as votes were being counted: “The greatest promise the Church can offer any government is vigilant collaboration, and that offer we make now. We will urge our people to work with the government for the good of all.”
He added: “Several critical, even spiteful, voices have asked us to desist from ‘interfering’ in politics. We cannot … it would be a denial of Christ’s universal lordship.”
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