Pope Francis has approved a three-year extension to the Catholic Church’s reform process, showing his determination to continue leading despite spending a month in hospital battling pneumonia.
The Vatican announced that the 88-year-old pontiff signed off on the decision from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14.
“On 11 March, the Holy Father definitively approved the start of a process of accompaniment and evaluation of the implementation phase by the General Secretariat of the Synod,” the Vatican said.
The reforms aim to increase women’s roles in the Church, including the possibility of ordaining female deacons, and to involve laypeople more in governance. The Synod of Bishops, the main body guiding these changes, has already held two major assemblies in 2023 and 2024. For the first time, women were given voting rights in these meetings. However, the question of ordaining women as deacons remains unresolved.
The new timeline extends the reform process until 2028, when an “ecclesial assembly” will take place at the Vatican. Unlike previous synods, this gathering will include bishops, clergy, monks, nuns, and laypeople. By then, Francis will be 91, making it possible that his successor will inherit the ongoing reform agenda.
Some church leaders have resisted Francis’ push for change, but the extension allows more local churches to engage in the process.
Despite his health issues, Pope Francis has remained active in governance, signing documents, meeting aides, and appointing bishops from his hospital bed.
The Vatican meanwhile has said that Pope Francis is improving but still requires various in-hospital therapies.
“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable, confirming the progress shown in the last week. The Holy Father still requires hospital medical therapy, motor and respiratory physiotherapy; these therapies, at present, are showing further, gradual improvements,” the Vatican said in a bulletin on his health.
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