Communiqué of His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández on the XIII General Congregation of the Synod

Monday 21 October 2024, morning

I would like to clarify that Group 5 is coordinated by the doctrinal Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Last Friday he had a medical intervention and proposed in his place two people very capable of listening, in order to hear the proposals. Afterwards I heard that some people expected my presence and I offered a meeting on Thursday at 16.30.

We know that the Holy Father has expressed that in this moment, the matter of the female diaconate is not ripe and has asked that we do not dwell on this possibility at the moment. The study commission on the theme has reached partial conclusions, which we will publish at the right moment, but I have to say that I am in full agreement. Why?

Because to think of the diaconate for some women does not solve the problem of the millions of women of the Church. Besides, we have not yet taken some steps that instead we could take. I will offer just a few examples:

1. When the new ministry of the catechist was created, the Dicastery for Divine Worship sent a letter to the Episcopal Conferences, in which it proposed several forms for the ministry to take. One was linked to the guidance of the catechesis. But the second embraced what the Pope had said in Querida Amazonia about catechists supporting communities in the absence of priests, women who are in charge, lead communities and perform various functions. The Episcopal Conferences could accept this second way, but very few did. This proposal was possible because the Pope had explained in his documents that priestly power, linked to the sacraments, is not necessarily expressed as power or authority, and that there are forms of authority that do not require holy orders. But these texts were not accepted.

2. The ministry of acolyte for women was granted in a small percentage of dioceses, and very often it was the priests who did not want to present women to the bishop for this ministry.

3. The diaconate for men: in how many dioceses in the world was it accepted? And where they were accepted, how often are they merely ordained altar boys?

These few examples show us that rushing to ask for the ordination of deaconesses is not the most important response today for promoting women.

To encourage reflection, I have asked for testimonies to be sent to my Dicastery from women who are truly at the head of their community or who hold important roles of authority, not because they were imposed by the communities, or as the result of a study, but because they acquired this authority under the impulse of the Spirit in the face of a need of the people. Reality is superior to the idea. This is the line of work at this stage. I especially ask the women members of this Synod to help take up, make explicit and forward to the Dicastery various proposals, which we can hear in their context, on possible ways for the participation of women in the leadership of the Church. In this regard, we await proposals and reflections.

So, on Thursday I will listen to some ideas on the role of women in the Church. For those who were very concerned about procedures and names, on Thursday I will explain and I will give the names, so as to be able to associate faces with this work.

Despite what has been said, for those who are convinced that the question of the female diaconate must be explored, the Holy Father has confirmed to me that he will continue to be active in the Commission presided over by Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi. The members of the Synod who wish – either individually or as groups – may send their considerations, proposals, articles or concerns on the matter to the Commission. Cardinal Petrocchi has confirmed that the work will resume in the coming months and that they will analyze the material that has arrived.

Friends, I am convinced that we can go forward step by step, and reach some very tangible results, so that it may be understand that there is nothing in the nature of women that prevents them from holding very important roles in the guidance of the Church. What truly comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.