By virtue of Baptism, we are all called to be missionary disciples of the Lord. Many women, answering this call, keep the Church on its feet throughout the world with their admirable self-giving and ardent faith. The Holy Father recognizes this fact when he proposes that women should have “a real and effective impact on the organization, the most important decisions and the direction of communities, while continuing to do so in a way that reflects their womanhood.” It’s not the first time he insists that women should hold positions of responsibility in the Church and participate in its decision-making bodies.

“No one has been baptized a priest or a bishop. We have all been baptized as lay people.

Lay people are protagonists of the Church.

Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.

And we must emphasize the feminine lay presence because women tend to be left aside.

We must promote the integration of women, especially where important decisions are made.

We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church, without falling into forms of clericalism that diminish the lay charism.”