The Pous Francisco Sunday for the first time at women lay Roman Catholic ministries of reader and catechist, roles that many had previously played without a institutional recognition.
Francis led the ministries at a Mass in St. Louis. Peter’s Basilica hands over where, in an apparent reference to resistance to change by some conservatives, he has criticized those who must have rigid norms and “more rules” to find God.
Last year, Francisco changed church law about the ministries of readers and acolytes, which was reserved primarily for seminarians preparing for the priesthood, and said he wanted to bring stability and public recognition to women in those roles.
Lecturers read the Scriptures, altar ministers serve at Mass, and catechists teach the faith to children and adult converts.
The ministries of reader and acolyte existed before, but were officially reserved for men. Francis instituted the ministry of the catechist last year.
At Sunday Mass, the pope appointed six women and two men as readers and three women and five men as catechists. Francis handed out a Bible to each reader and a crucifix to each catechist.
The formalization will make it more difficult for conservative bishops to prevent women from taking up those roles in their dioceses.
Francis also hired several women to high level positions in Vatican apartments previously inhabited by men.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx