docs.church

Women in Church & Society

The dignity, vocation and role of women.

Also called women, feminine genius.

26 documents

Related topics

A dagger (†) means the date or the official link is still awaiting verification.

1960s

  1. Closing Message to Women8 December 1965Closing Message of the Council to WomenPope

1970s

  1. Ordo consecrationis virginum31 May 1970Rite of Consecration of Virgins (editio typica)Roman Curia
  2. Inter insigniores15 October 1976Declaration on the admission of women to the ministerial priesthoodRoman Curia

1980s

  1. Mulieris Dignitatem15 August 1988On the dignity and vocation of womenPope
  2. Familiaris Consortio22 November 1981On the role of the Christian family in the modern worldPope
  3. Christifideles Laici30 December 1988On the vocation and mission of the lay faithfulPope

1990s

  1. Letter to Women29 June 1995Letter to Women ahead of the Beijing ConferencePope
  2. Ordinatio Sacerdotalis22 May 1994On reserving priestly ordination to men alonePope
  3. Responsum ad dubium concerning Ordinatio sacerdotalis28 October 1995Response on the teaching of Ordinatio sacerdotalisRoman Curia
  4. Vita Consecrata25 March 1996On the consecrated life and its missionPope
  5. Spes Aedificandi1 October 1999Proclaiming Sts Bridget, Catherine of Siena and Teresa Benedicta co-patronesses of EuropePope

2000s

  1. Letter on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World31 May 2004Letter on the Collaboration of Men and WomenRoman Curia
  2. From the Diakonia of Christ to the Diakonia of the Apostles30 September 2002From the Diakonia of Christ to the Diakonia of the ApostlesTheological & Biblical Commissions
  3. Common Declaration23 November 2006Common Declaration of Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan WilliamsEcumenical & Interreligious Dialogue

2010s

  1. Catechesis on Women Saints and Mystics1 September 2010 – 2 February 2011Medieval and early-modern women saints from Hildegard of Bingen to Teresa of Avila, 2010-2011Pope
  2. Lux sui populi7 October 2012Proclaiming St Hildegard of Bingen a Doctor of the ChurchPope
  3. In Missa in Cena Domini6 January 2016Decree on the Washing of FeetRoman Curia
  4. Vultum Dei quaerere29 June 2016On women's contemplative lifePope
  5. Common Declaration5 October 2016Common Declaration of Francis and Archbishop WelbyEcumenical & Interreligious Dialogue
  6. New Wine in New Wineskins†6 January 2017New Wine in New Wineskins: Consecrated Life and its Ongoing ChallengesRoman Curia
  7. Cor orans1 April 2018Implementing Instruction of Vultum Dei quaerereRoman Curia
  8. Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago8 June 2018Instruction on the Ordo virginumRoman Curia

2020s

  1. Women's participation in the life and leadership of the Church10 March 2026Synod Study Group 5 Final Report: Women's participation in the life and leadership of the ChurchSynod of Bishops
  2. Spiritus Domini10 January 2021Amending canon 230 §1: women admitted to lector and acolyte ministriesPope
  3. A Synodal Church in Mission: Synthesis Report28 October 2023XVI Ordinary General Assembly, First Session (2023), For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission: Synthesis ReportSynod of Bishops
  4. For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission26 October 2024XVI Ordinary General Assembly, Second Session (2021-2024 synod on synodality): Final Document (adopted by Pope Francis as ordinary magisterium)Synod of Bishops