During Pope Francis’s papacy, the role of women in the Catholic Church became a key focus.

Though his reforms were gradual, they marked historic changes: appointing women to senior Vatican roles, allowing them to vote in synods, and increasing their presence in church leadership. By 2023, women made up 23.4% of the Vatican workforce, up from 19.2% in 2013. Francis also broke tradition by washing the feet of female prisoners on Holy Thursday. Still, he maintained the ban on female priests and deacons, though he encouraged wider participation and called for deeper theological reflection on women’s roles. Critics argue more needs to be done, particularly as the all-male College of Cardinals retains the exclusive power to elect a pope. Calls to allow women to serve as deacons—based on early Church history—remain under discussion. Advocates see Francis’s openness to dialogue as a major step forward, while hoping his successor pushes for deeper inclusion and equality within church structures.

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