Pope Francis calls for gender equality in church leadership, promotes nun to key Vatican role

Pope Francis has called for an end to the "chauvinistic mentality" within the Catholic Church, advocating for greater representation of women in leadership roles.

Speaking on Wednesday, the 88-year-old pontiff emphasised the need to overcome clericalism and gender bias as he announced the promotion of Sister Raffaella Petrini to the president of the governorate of Vatican City State. Petrini, who currently serves as secretary general, will assume her new role in March.

Addressing a meeting of the Hilton Foundation, which supports education for nuns, Pope Francis acknowledged long standing criticisms about the lack of women in decision-making positions within the Church. “It’s true that people often complain there aren’t enough nuns in roles of responsibility,” he said, adding, “We must overcome a clerical and chauvinistic mentality.”

Praising the capabilities of women, he remarked, “Thank God, nuns are ahead and know how to do things better than men.” He also called for increased investment in the education of nuns, criticising past attitudes that treated women as "second class." He stressed that nuns’ missions require training and competence, and that their work is about serving the underprivileged, not being domestic workers for clergy.

The pope’s tenure, which began in 2013, has seen incremental progress in increasing women’s representation in the Vatican. The percentage of women working in the Holy See and Vatican City rose from 19% in 2013 to 23.4% in 2023, according to Vatican News. Despite these advancements, women remain excluded from Holy Orders, and calls for the ordination of women as priests have gone unanswered.

This month, Francis also appointed Sister Simona Brambilla to lead the Vatican office overseeing global Catholic religious orders and congregations, another significant step toward enhancing women’s roles in the Church.

Francis acknowledged historical and ongoing critiques of the Church’s treatment of nuns, including past accusations of exploitation, where nuns served as unpaid cooks and cleaners for clergy. He also faced criticism for referencing the Biblical story of Adam and Eve while discussing women’s leadership, humorously suggesting, “Don’t forget that since the Garden of Eden, they have been in charge.”

While the pope has made strides in empowering women within the Church, his leadership continues to draw mixed reactions.