Pope Francis Amends Catholic Church Law For Women

...But They Still Can’t Be Priests

Pope Francis has amended the Catholic Church law to allow women to do more things during Mass, granting them access to the most sacred place on the altar while continuing to affirm that they cannot be priests.

The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Pope Francis made this known in an apostolic letter released on Monday, January 11, 2021, Naija News understands.

According to the clergy, the amendment was to allow women to act as readers and altar servers in liturgical celebrations. The Church leader, however, insisted that women are limited to the new development and are not allowed to become priests.

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The change according to the pope “shines a light on how some ministries instituted by the church have as their foundation that common condition of baptism and the royal priesthood received in the Sacrament of Baptism.”

AllNews Nigeria understands that the Pope in the letter, titled ‘Spiritus Domini and issued ‘motu proprio,’ changes the Code of Canon Law to explicitly allow women to be installed in the Catholic Church as lectors and acolytes.

In the Christendom: Lectors are people responsible for reading aloud excerpts of the scripture at a liturgy. They proclaim readings at Mass and other liturgical celebrations in the Catholic services while Acolytes or Altar servers are ministers who typically assist priests in preparing the altar during the Mass or in distributing communion.

However, Pope’s amendment of the Catholic Church law (laymen” as the category of those who can formally serve in the ministries with laypersons) would require all global Catholic bishops to accept women into those roles understands.