The new regulations state that five voting nuns will be appointed to the synod. The Pope also appoints 70 members outside the episcopal state from nominations sent by church organizations. Half of the nominees must be women, and the Vatican also encourages a greater representation of young people.
Until now, only men were regular members of the synod. However, women acted as experts and advisers at the meetings. The AP agency writes that they have been striving for the opportunity to vote for a long time.
Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, who presented the changes to reporters on Wednesday, said it was not a revolution. “The 70 new members represent 21 percent of the assembly, which remains, in general terms, a meeting of bishops,” the cardinal said. According to Cardinal Mario Grech, the change can enrich the debate within the church.
The Synod of Bishops, which brings together other high church functionaries in addition to the heads of dioceses, deals with the most urgent topics in the Catholic Church.
At the end of the meeting, he usually approves a document with his recommendations and positions. In the Catholic Church, the Pope has all the power, which means that he does not have to pay any attention to the opinions expressed by the Synod.
During the Urbi et Orbi, the Pope called for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and other parts of the world
Europe
