In March 2026, the Vatican’s doctrine office released its final report on women’s participation in the life and leadership of the Catholic Church. The report brings to a close the two-year work of Study Group 5, which, as part of the Synod on Synodality, was tasked with studying women’s ministries and leadership. In this special roundtable conversation, editors at America magazine discuss the report’s content and proposals, and ask if the document changes the status quo for women in the Catholic Church.
Featuring:
- Ashley McKinless, executive editor and co-host of the “Jesuitical” podcast
- Kerry Weber, executive editor
- Colleen Dulle, Vatican correspondent and co-host of the “Inside the Vatican” podcast
- Molly Cahill, associate editor
Chapters:
- 0:00 The Vatican’s final report on women and ministry
- 4:23 Women’s reactions to the report
- 11:28 New ministries for women?
- 20:05 The horizons and limits of women’s authority
- 30:30 Will women be involved in decision-making?
Links:
- The final synod report on women: what it says, what it means and what’s next
- Where the women deacons question stands at the Vatican
- Full Report of Study Group 5 on “The Participation of Women in the Life and Leadership of the Church”
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