Pope Francis has accused those considering women as cardinals within the Catholic Church as suffering from “clericalism”.
Pope Francis has accused those considering women as cardinals within the Catholic Church as suffering from “clericalism”.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Italian daily, La Stampa, the Pontiff dealt with an issue which surfaced in the secular media a number of months ago together with names of women likely to be chosen as cardinals should the way be paved for such a move.
“I don’t know where this idea sprang from,” the Pope said. “Women in the Church must be valued not ‘clericalised’. Whoever thinks of women as cardinals suffers a bit from clericalism.”
Conducted as he approaches his first Christmas as Pope, the interview sought answers on numerous topics, such as the meaning of Christmas, recent accusations of ‘Marxist undertones’ in his exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, and the pursuit of Christian unity.
Dismissing the Marxist label, levelled by sections of the US media, the Pontiff said: “The Marxist ideology is wrong. But I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people, so I don’t feel offended.”
More important for the Pope, however, is the question of Christian unity during a time of unprecedented pressure on the community in various parts of the world.
“For me ecumenism is a priority,” Pope Francis. “Today there is an ecumenism of blood. In some countries they kill Christians for wearing a cross or having a Bible and before they kill them they do not ask them whether they are Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic or Orthodox. Their blood is mixed. To those who kill, we are Christians. We are united in blood, even though we have not yet managed to take necessary steps towards unity between us and perhaps the time has not yet come. Unity is a gift that we need to ask for.”
Looking ahead to 2014, the Pope was questioned about recent invitations for him to visit the Holy Land, answering simply: “We are preparing for this.”