Church Moves at ‘Different Speeds’ on Women’s Role, Says Cardinal Hollerich

The Catholic Church is advancing on women’s participation, but not all parts are moving at the same pace, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich said, highlighting what he described as “different speeds” across local Churches, Vatican News reported.

The cardinal underscored that while progress is being made, unity must guide any future developments, especially regarding ordained ministry.

According to Vatican News, Cardinal Hollerich, S.J., Archbishop of Luxembourg and General Relator of the Synod on Synodality, described the publication of the Synod Study Group report on women’s participation as “a big step” toward greater inclusion in the life and mission of the Church.

The report, prepared by Study Group No. 5 on “Women’s participation in the life and leadership of the Church,” was recently released.

Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Hollerich emphasized that the report marks meaningful progress. “It is a big step,” he said, noting the importance of ensuring that women feel truly welcomed in the Church.

“It is so important that women feel that they are welcome in the Church, not just for filling up the benches, but to fully participate in the life of the Church, to fully participate in the mission of the Church,” he said.

He added that the synodal process remains open, and that even identifying the key issues is itself a significant part of discernment.

Cardinal Hollerich pointed to concrete signs of progress, noting that both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV “are showing the way” through the appointment of women to senior roles in the Roman Curia.

He also cited developments in his own archdiocese, where women serve as episcopal delegates overseeing key pastoral sectors such as social ministry and formation, and as members of teams accompanying seminarians.

At the same time, Cardinal Hollerich stressed, as reported by Vatican News, that developments in the Church must remain rooted in communion with the universal Church.

“It should always be done in dialogue with the Bishop of Rome, who is in charge of unity… It should not be rushed just for doing it,” he said.

He acknowledged that pastoral realities differ across regions, noting that there can be “different speeds in the local Churches,” shaped by cultural contexts and the place of women in society.

However, he made a clear distinction when it comes to ordained ministry, emphasizing that any potential development in this area would require broad ecclesial consensus to safeguard unity and avoid division.

Reflecting on pastoral experiences, Cardinal Hollerich told Vatican News that many young women feel insufficiently recognized in the Church.

“I feel that, not just women who have studied theology, but when I am with young people… many of the girls of our youth are sad because they feel that they are not completely recognized by the Church,” he said.

“That makes me sad as a pastor,” he added.