Pope Urges Inclusion of Women in Church Governance at Vatican Synod

Pope Francis concluded a month-long meeting on the future of the Catholic Church by emphasizing the urgent need to guarantee greater participation of women in church governance roles. The meeting approved a 42-page text that will be considered at a second session next year, with proposals including research on allowing women to be deacons to be released within a year. The text also called for more women in high-ranking positions in the Vatican and local churches, and for changes to canon law to facilitate this. The final text did not mention homosexuality, but acknowledged the need to listen to and defend the dignity of marginalized individuals.