On 25 January 2014 His Holiness
Pope Francis received in audience representatives of the CIF (Centro Italiano
Femminile – Italian Women's Centre), on the occasion of their congress. In his
address, Pope Francis observed that during recent decades, “alongside other
cultural and social transformations, also the identity and role of women in the
family, in society and in the Church has seen significant changes, and in
general the participation and responsibility of women has increased”.
In this process, he recalled,
“discernment on the part of the Magisterium of the Popes” has been, and still
is, important, especially the publication in 1988 of Blessed John Paul II's
Apostolic Letter “Mulieris dignitatem” on the dignity and vocation of
women, and his Message for the 1995 World Day for Peace on the theme “Women:
teachers of peace”. He continued, “I too have considered the indispensable
contribution of women in society … I have rejoiced in seeing many women sharing
some pastoral responsibility with priests in accompanying people, families and
groups, as in theological reflection, and I have expressed my hope that greater
room can be made for a more capillary and incisive female presence in the
Church”.
“If in the world of work and in
the public sphere a more incisive contribution by the female gender is
important, then this contribution also remains indispensable within the domain
of the family, which for Christians is not simply a private space, but rather
that 'domestic Church' whose health and prosperity is a condition for the
health and prosperity of the Church of society itself”, he added. “At this
point it is natural to ask: how is it possible for women to increase their
effective presence in many contexts within the public sphere, in the world of
work and in places where the most important decisions are made, and at the same
time maintaining their presence and preferential and entirely special attention
in and for the family? Here it is the field of discernment that, aside from
reflection on the reality of women in society, presupposes assiduous and
persistent prayer”.
“It is in dialogue with God,
enlightened by prayer, that the Christian woman continually searches to answer
the Lord's call, in the reality of her situation. This is a prayer that is
always supported by the maternal presence of Mary. She, who cared for her
divine Son, who propitiated his first miracle at the wedding at Cana, who was
present on Calvary and at the Pentecost, shows you the road to take to deepen
the meaning and role of women in society and to be fully faithful to the Lord
Jesus Christ and to your mission in the world”.
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