Pope Francis announced Wednesday that he will break two millennia of Church tradition and invite two women to join the panel that advises the Pope on the selection of new bishops, Reuters reports.
“Two women will be appointed for the first time in the committee to elect bishops in the Congregation for Bishops,” the Pope said. “This way, things are opening up a bit.”
Francis has been more aggressive in integrating women into the administration of the Vatican, appointing women to positions such as the second-highest job in the government of the Vatican. He also named French Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart to be co-undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, which scheduled and manages the biannual meeting of bishops.