Pope Francis’ controversial inheritance on the position of women in the Catholic Church

Pope Francis leaves a mixed legacy in terms of the role of women in the Catholic Church

Made significant steps to strengthen the Vatican Labor Force, but also insisted that women would never be able to become priests

Just a few days before his death, Pope Francis met with nurses and doctors at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to thank them for their care.

The group of 70 men and women led Elena Bekalli, who in June became the first female rector of the Catholic University of Milan’s Catholic University. The University School of Medicine in Rome has close ties with Gemelli Hospital.

« Thank you for your hospital services, they were very good, keep going, » Franciscus told the team, before turning to Bekalli and adds:

« When women are responsible, things are going well! »

It was not the first time that Francis publicly praised the role of women.

During his 12 -year Popper, he took significant steps to strengthen the Vatican Labor for the Vatican, appointing several women in high administration positions.

It also gave women the right to vote at the Vatican summit in which bishops participate from around the world.

However, in other areas, whether it is the handling of the accusations of clergy nuns or for his repeated statements that women can never become priests, Franciscan leaves behind a mixed legacy According to the Guardian.

The patriarchal structures of the church

The fact that women continue to participate as passive spectators in the church became clear from their absence during the funeral operation in St. Peter’s Square, where the mourners filled the positions around the altar and the first rows on the side of the Amon who were destined for the leaders.

Instead, the nuns stood among the multitude of pilgrims and tourists, watching mainly the ceremony from television screens.

In the meantime, the issue of women is so far absent from the discussions of the Cardinals, who share their vision of the future of the Church during daily meetings before the Conclave, at least according to information provided to the press by a Vatican official.

However, as men are preparing to enter the Sistine Hat to elect a new Pope on Wednesday, drawing attention to the whole world, the weight will fall into a group of women working behind the scenes to ensure that everything is going well.

Women on the outskirts of Conclavium

In a mission under the leadership of the brothers managing Casa Santa Marta, the hostel where the 133 cardinals will reside during the Conclave, their task will be to cook for men and clean their bedrooms.

The nuns will also help them manage their daily needs, especially the weakest ones, while providing them with spiritual support for their electoral duty through prayer.

« It is the women who actually keep everything united, » said Gloria Brandiani, a former nun.

« But the Catholic Church remains a patriarchal institution where women almost do not hear. »

Sexual abuse and Rupnic case

Brandiani knows it well.

He left the monastery after alleged sexual abuses for years by Mark Rupnik, a once-distinguished Jesuit artist-priest who was a friend of Francis.

Rupnik, who has been accused of abuse by at least nine women, was concerned in 2020 but reintegrated after his repentance.

Rupni was eventually eliminated from the Jesuit Order in June 2023, as the « degree of credibility » of the accusations against him was considered « very high ».

However, he remains a priest and is now based in a diocese in Copper, in his hometown of Slovenia.

Father Marko Rupnik Will Face a Canonical Trial « In the Not-Too-Distant Future, » A Vatican Source Told Osv News. https://t.co/5zfojojkf3

– Father V (@father_RMV) March 12, 2025

Brandiani had long denounced abuse, but claimed that no one was listening to it.

In 2019 there was hope when Francis became the first Pontiff to publicly admitted that priests had abused sexually nuns.

However, he did not keep his promise to do more to combat the problem.

The Rupnic case is in court for teaching faith, the Vatican’s body responsible for supervising the prosecution of serious crimes by the church.

However, the case is slowly moving on, as Rupnik’s alleged victims were informed that the judges were discouraged to take over the case because women spoke to the press.

Rupnik’s Case CASTS LIGHT ON THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF NUNS https://t.co/ycunnsvsh5 @Clairegiangrave

– Thomas Reese, SJ (@thomasreeses) March 14, 2025

« Gloria filed the first complaint in 1993 and, if it had been examined then, would we never need to go to the media … and how many victims would they have escaped? » Said Laura Sgro, a lawyer who represents Bratsiani and other Battalion, rape).

Sister Libya Angelilis, a Tuscan -based nun, said that the problem of clergy abuse was always existed, « either in mild or in serious form ». « They were afraid to speak – the nuns tend to see the priests until Jesus on earth, » he said.

« But Francis’ recognition has at least given more women the courage to report. »

We Cannot Forget That A #Conclave is when * ordained Men * Gather Behind * closed doors * to make a conceletal decision about the future of the church.

A woman’s place is in the conclave.#Ordainwomen pic.twitter.com/ofzihyirra

– Women’s Ordination Conference (@ordainwomen) April 28, 2025

Racing for ordination

The main obstacle that restricts the power of women in the Church is the prohibition of becoming priests. « They have no voice, » Sgro said.

The struggle for female priests has long been watched by the Catholic Organization of Women’s (CWO), a global organization that combats misogyny in the Church.

Pat Brown, a CWO spokesman, said that while Francis was « wonderful » in many ways, he seems to have a « blind spot » in justice to women.

« There is absolutely no reason why women cannot become priests – they are misogyny, » he said.

Justice is exactly what Brandiani would want to see from the next Pope.

« The words are fine, but we need actions, starting with an immediate trial against Rupn. However, real reforms can only start when women can be trained to become priests. «