Vatican Rules Out Women Deacons for Now – Moves Toward New Lay Ministries for Women
The Commission rules out admitting women to the diaconate understood as a degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders, but without issuing a definitive judgment at this time.
The report stresses repeatedly that the negative assessment is “strong” yet “does not permit formulating a definitive judgment,” unlike the case of priestly ordination.
Submission of the Report to Pope Leo XIV
On 18 September, Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, President of the Study Commission on the Female Diaconate, submitted to Pope Leo XIV a detailed synthesis of the Commission’s work.
The report reflects several years of historical, theological, and pastoral investigation.
Historical Findings: A Non-Sacramental Ancient Practice
The Commission revisited the findings of two earlier Vatican commissions.
Historical research confirms that, in the early Church, the title deaconess appeared in different regions and periods, but with no univocal meaning. It did not function as a simple female equivalent of the male diaconate.
Although a few isolated testimonies display sacramental features, the broader tradition does not support the idea that the ancient female diaconate belonged to apostolic succession.
The second Commission unanimously concluded in 2021 that the ancient female diaconate was a sui generis ministry, distinct from the sacramental diaconate conferred on men.
Voting and Theological Divergence (2021–2025)
Between 2021 and 2025, Commission members voted on a series of theses to identify areas of consensus and disagreement.
Members agreed almost unanimously that the ancient female diaconate was not sacramental (7 in favor – 0 against – 1 abstention) and that ordaining women as deacons raises serious doctrinal questions (10–0–0). On three alternative statements about establishing a sacramental female diaconate, the Commission remained deeply divided, with no position gaining a majority.
A strong consensus supported the creation of new instituted lay ministries for women (10–0–0).
In 2025, a theological statement on Christ’s masculinity as essential to Holy Orders resulted in an even split (5–5).
Cardinal Petrocchi notes that the Synod of Synodality did not show strong consensus on the question of women deacons.
Arguments Against Sacramental Ordination of Women
Among the central arguments against admitting women to the sacramental diaconate are:
- the intrinsic unity of Holy Orders (deacon, priest, bishop).
- the spousal symbolism embedded in the sacramental structure of Orders.
- the conviction that Christ’s masculinity is not accidental but integral to sacramental representation.
These positions reflect one of the two “theological orientations” identified by the Commission.
Broad Agreement: Expand Instituted Lay Ministries
The Commission's agreement was for access of women to instituted lay ministries.
Bishops should develop new ministries to meet contemporary pastoral needs and to give formal ecclesial recognition to the service that women already provide across the Church.
Two Opposing Views
Petrocchi outlines two primary approaches within the Commission:
1. Those who argue that since the diaconate is ad ministerium (ordered to service) and not ad sacerdotium (ordered to priesthood), sacramental diaconal ordination could, in principle, be extended to women.
2. Those who insist on the sacramental unity of Holy Orders and its nuptial symbolism, and therefore reject admitting women to the first degree of the sacrament. They argue that allowing women to become deacons would make their exclusion from priesthood and episcopacy theologically inexplicable.
After Three Commissions: Further Study
Given the lack of convergence between these positions, the report calls for prudence and a continued, global investigation into the nature of the diaconate itself—its sacramental identity, its structural features, and its ecclesial mission.
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