Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) reacts to the death of Pope Francis

Women’s Ordination Worldwide mourns the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. His leadership challenged the church to be a more open and loving place and to show mercy and empathy for the most marginalized in society.

On behalf of Catholic women around the world, we express gratitude to Pope Francis for ending the culture of silence around the question of women called to ministry and leadership in the Church. Although he personally expressed reluctance to ordain women as deacons and priests, the Synodal process of listening that he initiated, enabled ordinary Catholics all over the world to express their overwhelming desire to see women recognised officially for the ministering work they do in every parish.

WOW recognizes that Pope Francis took steps to reform church laws and practices to allow more women to serve in administrative and managerial positions, previously reserved only for ordained men. We celebrate that women were allowed to vote for the first time at the Vatican during Francis’ pontificate. 

Our great hope is that the next Pope will feel called and compelled to continue the process of listening and changing that Pope Francis left unfinished. While he championed the marginalized of the world, in his own church, women continue to be on the sidelines of decision-making and dismissed from the possibility of answering their sincere calls to ordained ministry. The second-class status of women in the Roman Catholic Church is not just a painful reality for Catholic women, but a crisis for a church that seeks to follow the example of Jesus, who welcomed all to the table. We look forward to engaging with the next leader of our Church to ensure that women will not be sidelined and dismissed.

“Francis was clearly struck by the gender imbalance he witnessed within the Vatican and in the latter years of his papacy added a small number of women to select positions of influence. But he failed to act on what would have been a basic step towards global equality within the Church: recognising and reinstating women as deacons.” Dr Luca Badini Confalonieri, Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research

‘Pope Francis was a leader who courageously modeled a synodal Church rooted in dialogue, humility, and accompaniment. His vision opened pathways for greater inclusion and listening within the Catholic Church. Yet, we grieve that he did not fully embrace the call of women to the priesthood—a call that continues to rise with urgency and clarity.’ Jennifer O’Malley, RCWP

‘Pope Francis was considered by some - ie in my native Poland -as progressive and in other places - like in Belgium - he was strongly criticised for his negative stance on women’s ordination. He tried to make the Church more synodal, yet he dismissed the possibility of ordaining women deacons and never opened a discussion about women's vocations to serve as presbyters.’ Alicja Baranowska, Poland/Belgium

‘Pope Francis’ repeated “closed door” policy on women’s ordination was painfully incongruous with his otherwise pastoral nature, and for many, a betrayal of the synodal, listening church he championed. This made him a complicated, frustrating, and sometimes heart-breaking figure for many women.’ Kate McElwee, Women’s Ordination Conference

‘It is deeply regrettable that Pope Francis’ revolutionary thinking did not extend to women, especially those seeking sacramental ordination in the Catholic Church. Women called to priesthood, or the diaconate feel real pain. That Francis did not appear to recognise this, or to alleviate it, remains a source of profound sadness for us and for our sister movements.’ Pat Brown, Catholic Women’s Ordination

‘The continued practice of barring women from ordained ministries and from decision-making affecting women’s lives, contradicts church teaching on the equality of all members given in baptism. While Pope Francis critiqued a ‘culture of clericalism’ among clergy, he too appeared caught by the trap of historic and systemic sexism that pervades the institutional Church’ Dr Susan Roll, Catholic Network for Women’s Equality 

Contacts: 

Kate McElwee - +39 393 692 2100 kmcelwee@womensordination.org

Miriam Duignan +44 7970 926910 miriam.duignan@wijngaardsinstitute.com