Pope: It's right to discuss women's role in church decision-making

Published: 2006-03-03

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While insisting women cannot be ordained priests, Pope Benedict XVI said it is right to discuss how women can be more involved in church decision-making. Meeting March 2 with the priests of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Benedict spent two hours listening to their concerns and responding to the questions posed by 15 of them. The following day, the Vatican released a summary of the priests' questions and a transcript of the pope's remarks covering women in the church, youth, family life and a variety of other topics. Father Marco Valentini asked the pope why the church does not recognize that women's experience, wisdom and points of view would complement those of the men in decision-making positions. Pope Benedict said, "Everyone certainly has had this experience" that Father Valentini described of being assisted by women in growing in the faith. "The church owes a great debt of thanks to women," the pope said.

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