The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, left, and Polands President Andrzej Duda before a Mass that is part of Polands celebration of 1,050 years of the nations Catholicism at the 10th-century cathedral in Gniezno, considered to be the cradle of Polands Catholic faith, in western Poland, on Thursday, April 14, 2016. Polands conservative government wants the ceremonies to stress that Poland’s Catholic identity ties the nation to Western culture and values. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
By Ines San Martin
Vatican correspondent
ROME— Probably the most trusted adviser to Pope Francis, and a man who holds the position traditionally considered the Vatican’s “Prime Minister,” said Tuesday that in his view there’s no reason a woman one day couldn’t have his job.
“A woman could become Secretary of State, in the sense that the role of the Secretary of State is evidently not bound to the sacraments or the priesthood,” Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in a brief session with reporters on Tuesday.
“In any case, I repeat, let’s look at the path that has been traveled, and the Lord will tell us how far we can go,” he said.
Parolin was speaking during the presentation of an overhaul of a special section of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, dedicated to women.
In its current form, the office of Secretary of State dates to the early 16th century, when popes needed someone to handle communications with the Vatican’s diplomatic missions. Over the years it grew to become the Vatican’s most important administrative position, responsible not only for foreign policy but also a wide swath of internal Church governance.
By the 19th century, it was commonly felt that the Vatican had adopted a president/prime minister model, with the pope as the head of state and the Secretary of State as the head of government.
Some theologians and canon lawyers may dispute Parolin’s assertion that a woman could hold his position, since traditionally a Secretary of State exercises authority in the name of the pope, and some believe to do so one has to be ordained.
Parolin’s comment, however, is consistent with Pope Francis’ stated desire to find a “greater role” for women in Catholicism, including participation in the “important decisions . . . where the authority of the Church is exercised.”
In the presentation of the redesign for the newspaper’s section on women, speakers agreed that’s an aim worth pursuing.
“Often we are still at the back bench,” said Lucetta Scaraffia, who edits the special section.
“From there, we observe the life of the Church without our contribution being truly appreciated. Yet,” she said, “something is changing.”
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