Pink Smoke Released to Protest Exclusion of Women from Priesthood
Demanding the Appointment of Women to Senior Clergy Positions
First American Pope Elected in the History of the Conclave
On the second day of the conclave (the secret meeting of the College of Cardinals) on May 8 (local time), as the 267th pope was elected, reports emerged that women believers, who have historically been excluded from diocesan roles, are demanding an end to gender discrimination within the Catholic Church. On this day, international media outlets such as AFP reported that women who are currently excluded from priestly ordination in the Catholic Church protested the male-dominated conclave by releasing pink smoke.
Previously, the Catholic Church maintained the doctrine that the priesthood should be passed down only to men, based on the fact that Jesus chose all twelve apostles as men. Furthermore, only male clergy could hold high-ranking positions within the church, naturally excluding women from all senior roles within the dioceses. AP·Yonhap News
The Catholic Church has maintained the doctrine that the priesthood should be passed down only to men, based on the fact that Jesus chose all twelve apostles as men. Furthermore, only male clergy could hold high-ranking positions within the church, resulting in women being naturally excluded from all senior roles within the dioceses. Some female activists staged a performance in which they released pink smoke in a park on a hill overlooking the Vatican, symbolically demanding the ordination of women.
According to AFP, Miriam Duignan of the Wijngaards Institute stated, "You cannot lock the doors and discuss the future of the Church while ignoring half of its population," and added, "The pope must have the courage to properly address the issue of women's inclusion. Even Pope Francis failed to resolve this issue." Notably, Duignan was once detained in 2011 while trying to deliver a statement supporting women's ordination to the Vatican. She criticized, "It is true that Pope Francis entrusted some women with responsible positions, but their authority and status are always lower than those of men. Even the most experienced woman is ranked below the youngest priest."
Discussions on Allowing Women to Become Clergy in the Catholic Church Remain in the Early Stages
During Pope Francis's papacy, there were changes such as the participation of some laywomen in the Church assembly known as the Synod of Bishops. However, discussions on allowing women to become clergy are still reportedly in the early stages. Around October last year, Pope Francis approved a working group to review the issue of allowing women to serve as deacons. In a subsequent report, he stated that "the question of admitting women to the diaconate remains open and it is too early to make a decision." According to Duignan, among the 133 cardinals participating in this conclave, only one has expressed a positive stance on female clergy. Duignan kept the identity of this cardinal confidential out of concern for possible repercussions.
During Pope Francis's papacy, there were changes such as the participation of some laywomen in the Church assembly known as the Synod of Bishops. However, discussions on allowing women to become clergy are still reportedly in the early stages. Reuters·Yonhap News
Gabrielle Fidelin, an activist from France, strongly condemned the exclusion of women from the priesthood and the conclave, calling it "a sin and a scandal." Kate McElwee, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference, also stated, "While the world waits for white and black smoke, we send pink smoke, hoping that one day the Church will accept women as equals."
Meanwhile, the 133-member College of Cardinal electors chose Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (69) of the United States as the 267th pope on this day. The decision was made on the second day of the conclave and the fourth round of voting. The papal name he will use going forward is 'Leo XIV.' In Catholicism, 'Leo' means 'lion' in Latin. Born in 1955 in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV was ordained as a priest in 1982 and is a member of the Order of Saint Augustine. According to Euronews, this is the first time the Order of Saint Augustine has produced a pope.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
