Daijiworld Media Network - Vatican City
Vatican City, Feb 7: Breaking away from Catholic tradition, Pope Francis on Saturday, February 6 announced the appointment of a woman as an undersecretary of the synod of bishops, the first to hold the post with voting rights in a body that studies major questions of doctrine.
The 52-year-old Frenchwoman Nathalie Becquart is one of the two new undersecretaries to the synod, where she has been a consultant since 2019.
Becquart, who is a member of the France-based Xaviere Sisters has a master's degree in management from the prestigious HEC Business School in Paris and studied in Boston before joining the order.
With Becquart's appointment, it is evident that Pope Francis is keen on having 'greater participation of women in the process of discernment and decision-making in the church', said Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary-general of the synod.
"During the previous synods, the number of women participating as experts and listeners has increased. With the nomination of Sr Nathalie Becquart and her possibility of participating in voting, a door has opened," Grech said.
The synod is led by bishops and cardinals who have voting rights and also comprises experts who cannot vote, with the next gathering scheduled for autumn 2022.
A special synod on the Amazon in 2019 saw 35 female 'auditors' invited to the assembly. However, none of them had the power to vote.
Meanwhile, the Pope also announced that Spaniard Luis Marin de San Martin will be the other under undersecretary in the synod of bishops.