“The door opened.” Pope Francis has appointed a woman to the post of senior synod for the first time

Breaking the tradition, Pope Francis appointed a woman to the senior position of the Synod for the first time. The Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Natalie Bekvar from France, is the first woman to hold this position, which gives her the right to vote.

The 52-year-old woman is one of the two new deputy secretaries of the synod. She has been a consultant in this structure since 2019. This episcopal body studies the issues of doctrinal teaching.

“This appointment demonstrates the Catholic Church’s desire to increase women’s participation in church awareness-raising and decision-making,” said Synod Secretary-General Cardinal Grech.

He also noted that during the previous synods the number of women involved as experts and  listeners has increased. “With the nomination of Sister Natalie Bekvar, the door has been opened to vote.”

The Synod is governed by bishops-cardinals who have the right to vote. It also includes experts who do not have the right to vote.

The Argentine-born pope has long voiced his desire to reform the synod to allow secular women and men to play a greater role in the church.

Bekvar, who lives in France, received a master’s degree in management from the prestigious HEC business school in Paris and studied in Boston before taking up church service.

Full text in Armenian