In an interview earlier this year, he ruled out the possibility of ordaining women deacons, who can carry out functions like a priest apart from saying Mass and hearing confessions. Furthermore, Catholic teaching bars women from ordination to the priesthood, a decision that Francis has maintained, although he has allowed studies of female deacons. During previous papacies the question of ordaining women was not even up for discussion. Pope Francis attends the second session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod at the Vatican on Saturday. “There is resistance because there is still fear of this co-responsibility in the Catholic Church.

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Persons: Pope Francis, Phyllis Zagano, “, ” Francis, Francis, ”, Gregorio Borgia, Julia Oseka, “ There’s, Oseka, Francis ’, ” Helena Jeppesen, ” Kate McElwee Organizations: CNN, Hofstra University, Belgian Catholic, General Assembly, St Joseph’s University, Catholic Church, Catholic Locations: New York, Church, East, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, Switzerland