In 2023, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was a delegate to a global assembly of bishops, convened by Pope Francis, when discussion turned to whether women could serve as deacons.
The cardinal was not supportive. “Clericalizing women,” he said, would not “necessarily” solve problems in the church — and could perhaps create new ones.
“It isn’t as simple as saying that, ‘You know, at this stage we’re going to change the tradition of the Church after 2,000 years on any one of those points,’” he said, according to The Catholic News Agency.
Now, as Pope Leo XIV, he is sure to face more questions about women’s role in the church. In his years as a Vatican administrator and as a bishop in Latin America, he appears to have followed the lead of Francis, who expanded their role, but only up to a point.
In the Vatican, Cardinal Prevost ran the office that vets, selects and oversees bishops. He endorsed Francis’ efforts to give women new leadership roles, including in the office that the cardinal led.
The involvement of women had made “a noticeable difference, if you will, I think a very fine addition” to the office, Cardinal Prevost told The Catholic News Service in 2023.
Those who knew Leo when he was a bishop in Chiclayo, Peru, say he also supported leadership roles for lay women in social organizations.
Before Bishop Prevost arrived in Chiclayo, the diocese had been led for nearly half a century by more conservative bishops from the Roman Catholic organization Opus Dei. A local priest, the Rev. Pedro Vásquez, said by phone that Bishop Prevost had helped bring about change, slowly, for girls and women.
Yolanda Díaz, a teacher in the Chiclayo diocese who helped lead a group that assisted migrants and trafficking victims, also said that Bishop Prevost had expanded the role of women.
“Little by little the church has allowed us some involvement,” she said by phone. “There is a group of women leading social pastoral work here.”
Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.
Patricia Mazzei is the lead reporter for The Times in Miami, covering Florida and Puerto Rico.
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