The second commission created by the Vatican, in 2021, to study the possible access of women to the diaconate concluded, after four years of work, that there are no conditions for progress. The report, delivered to Leo
The document adds that, as in the case of priestly ordination, it is not yet possible to “formulate a definitive judgment”. The commission, chaired by Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, recognizes that the topic remains sensitive and theologically complex. Therefore, he maintains that the Church must maintain “a prudent line of assessment on the issue of the female diaconate”.
The report recalls that, over the centuries, there have been women called deaconesses, but without equivalence to the current diaconate, and cites a conclusion from the first commission created in 2016: “The Church has recognized the title of deacon/deaconess at various times, in various places and in various ways, but giving it a non-univocal meaning.”
Now, the second Commission has unanimously reached the elaboration of the following thesis, writes Petrocchi, in a letter addressed to Leo
Two theological paths, no consensus
Cardinal Petrocchi identifies a constant tension between two theological currents present in the debates.
The first current says that the deacon is ordained for service and not for the priesthood. In Latin, this is described as to the service (for the ministry) and not to the priesthood (for the priesthood).
According to this view, the deacon is not a “second-rate priest”. He is someone who serves the community in very concrete ways – in charity, in the liturgy and in proclaiming the Word – but does not have a priestly role as such. Thus, if the diaconate is primarily a ministry of service, then, some theologians argue, there would be no reason to exclude women, because men and women can serve in the same way.
The second current looks at the sacrament of Orders as an indivisible whole, with three degrees linked together: deacon, priest and bishop. This vision also highlights the so-called “spousal meaning” of the sacrament, that is, the symbolic idea that the ordained minister represents Christ (male figure) in his relationship with the Church community (female).
For theologians who follow this line, if the sacrament is one and has this masculine symbolic dimension, then it would not make sense to open the first degree (the diaconate) to women, while the second and third (priesthood and episcopate) would remain closed. Therefore, they reject the hypothesis of the female diaconate.
In other words, one view understands the diaconate as a service that can be performed by men and women; the other understands the diaconate as an inseparable part of the priesthood and, therefore, exclusively male.
Ten years after the first commission announced by Pope Francis, the situation remains practically at the same point. The lack of convergence led this second commission to conclude that the Church should only move forward after a “rigorous and broad critical examination of the diaconate itself, that is, of its sacramental identity and its ecclesiastical mission”.
Partial opening: more ministries for women
Despite the no to the female diaconate, the commission voted almost unanimously in favor of expanding the established ministries open to women.
The document says it is now up to Church leaders to decide what new services or functions can be created to respond to the needs of today’s communities.
These new ministries would be official ways of recognizing and valuing the work that many faithful already do, especially women, who in many parishes support a large part of pastoral life.
Cardinal Petrocchi’s text says that this gesture would be a “prophetic sign”, especially in places where women still face inequality or discrimination.
Petrocchi defends, in the final comment, the need to continue the study of the topic with prudence, but also with openness, and emphasizes that the diversity of theological positions shows that the debate is still far from a final point.
Leo XIV: theme will remain open
Pope Leo XIV himself had already indicated that he did not expect quick changes. In his first interview as pontiff, with the North American portal Crux, he recalled that the issue of the female diaconate has been studied “for many years” and that “it will continue to be a problem”, recalls the Ecclesia portal.
In the interview, the current head of the Catholic Church also questioned: “Why would we talk about ordaining women to the diaconate if this, in itself, is not yet well understood and has not been adequately developed and promoted within the Church?”