In a historic move, Pope Francis approved changes on Wednesday that will for the first time allow women to vote at a global meeting of bishops in October.
The change might result in the Roman Catholic Church making decisions that are more inclusive.
Women used to be permitted to participate in the synods, a papal consultative body, as auditors but without voting privileges. Five religious sisters are given voting rights under the revolutionary laws, according to news agency Reuters.
When the bishops gather, they will discuss how to better involve the flock as the church develops. Important topics like the place of women in the church and LGBTQ relationships are anticipated to be covered. The pope wants 50 percent of the additional 70 non-bishop voting members to be women.
140 candidates recommended by national bishops’ conferences will be cut down to 70 priests, nuns, deacons, and lay Catholics by the pope. The Vatican has requested that 50 percent of the 70 be female.
Synods are usually attended by about 300 people, so the bulk of those with voting rights will still be bishops. Still, the change is remarkable for an institution that has been male-dominated for centuries, Reuters reported.
