Vatican's new female advisory group marked as a positive initial step for women
In March 2017, the Pontifical Council for Culture presented a groundbreaking initiative - a 37-member Women's Consultation Group. This group, formed by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, aims to bring a "feminine perspective" into the council's activities and official documents, as well as foster dialogue and collaboration within the Vatican.
The group, which serves a three-year term and meets three times annually, includes women from diverse backgrounds, such as ambassadors, journalists, doctors, professors, actresses, teachers, and more. One of the key members is Emma Madigan, the Irish Ambassador to the Holy See, who hopes to use her diplomatic experience to further open channels within the Vatican.
Madigan initially had reservations about joining the group, fearing it might appear as advising the Church on its affairs. However, she agreed since the group speaks to people from all walks of life, including Catholics, non-Catholics, and even non-believers.
The Women's Consultation Group was born from the Pontifical Council for Culture's plenary assembly in February 2015, dedicated to the theme "La Cultura Femminile," or, "The Feminine Culture." During this assembly, Italian psychologist and psychotherapist Dr. Laura Bastianelli spoke about "generativity (procreativity) as a symbolic code." She later wrote an article for the group's magazine on youth culture, discussing the challenges and richness of today's youth, as well as the impact of technology on them.
The group's first project was a magazine titled "Cultures and Faith," which included contributions from various members in different languages, reflecting on a variety of topics. Dr. Bastianelli also emphasized the necessity of collaboration between men and women as "a creative process."
Donna Orsuto, director of the Rome-based Lay Center, called the group "a good start" for greater representation of women in leadership at the Vatican. She believes it is a concrete example of Pope Francis' call for a more "incisive" feminine presence in the Church. Orsuto is joined by other prominent women, such as baroness Marion Dönhoff (journalist), Silvia Bencivelli (science journalist), and Angelika Overath (writer), in the advisory group of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Emma Madigan views the consultation group as a practical example of saying "we want a woman's perspective" in the Vatican. She hopes that the group will not only make a difference within the Church but also spread to other realities outside of it, so the "richness of this experience can be replicated." Dr. Bastianelli shares this sentiment, expressing her hope that the consultation group will foster greater collaboration between men and women and contribute to a more inclusive Church.
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