Vatican commission on female diaconate holds first meeting

Panel member Prof Phyllis Zagano

The Vatican announced on Friday that the newly established commission for the study of the female diaconate was holding its first meeting at the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The two day meeting brings together the 12 members of the commission, under the presidency of Jesuit Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, who also serves as Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

During the morning and afternoon sessions, members are studying the situation of women deacons in the early centuries of Church history.

Pope Francis announced the setting up of the new commission on 2 August this year, following a 12 May meeting with participants at a plenary assembly of female religious superiors, who asked him about the possibility of restoring the permanent diaconate for women.

The commission includes six men and six women from eight different countries, with a wide variety of theological perspectives. Five of the members teach at pontifical universities in Rome, while four are members of the International Theological Commission.

The full list of commission members includes:

Sr Nuria Calduch-Benages, MHSFN, Member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission;

Prof Francesca Cocchini, Professor at the University La Sapienza and at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum Rome;

Mgr Piero Coda, Dean of the University Institute Sophia, Loppiano, and Member of the International Theological Commission;

Fr P Robert Dodaro, OSA, Dean Patristic Institute Augustinianum Rome

Fr P Santiago Madrigal Terrazas, SJ, professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical University Comillas Madrid;

Sr Mary Melone, SFA, rector of the Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome;

Fr Karl-Heinz Menke, Emeritus Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bonn and member of the International Theological Commission;

Fr Aimable Musoni, SDB, professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome;

Fr Bernard Pottier, SJ, Professor at the 'Institut d'Etudes théologiques, Brussels, and member of the International Theological Commission;

Prof Marianne Schlosser, Professor of Spiritual Theology at the University of Vienna and a member of the International Theological Commission;

Prof Michelina Tenace, Professor of Fundamental Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Prof Phyllis Zagano, Professor at Hofstra University, New York.

Source: Vatican Radio