At 11:00am today, in the Consistory Hall in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience those participating in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture, which concludes its work today on the theme: The culture of women: equality and difference.
Following some words of greeting spoken by the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Pope addressed the following words to those who were present.
Dear brothers and sisters,
I gladly welcome you at the conclusion of your Plenary Assembly, which has involved you in reflection and research on the theme of The culture of women: equality and difference. I thank Cardinal Ravasi for the words which he has addressed in your name. I wish to express my gratitude especially to the women who are present, but also to all those - and I know that there are many - who have contributed in various ways to the preparations for and the execution of this work.
The subject that you have chosen is close to my heart; already on many occasions I have had the chance to touch on it and to invite further reflection. It is a matter of studying new criteria and procedures so that women don't feel like guests, but know that they are fully participants in the various areas of social and ecclesial life. The Church is a woman, she is feminine, not masculine. This is a challenge which can no longer be postponed. I say this to pastors of various Christian communities who come here representing the universal Church, but also to the laity who are involved in various ways in matters of culture, in education, in economics, in politics, in the world of work, in families and in religious institutions.
The order of the topics you have planned and developed for the work during these days - work which will certainly continue also in the future - permits me to point out an itinerary and to offer you a few guidelines for developing such commitment in all corners of the earth, in the hearts of all cultures, in dialogue between the various religious affiliations.
The first theme is: Between equality and difference: searching for equality. An equality that is harmonious, not only balanced. This aspect should not be understood ideologically, because the lens of ideology sometimes stops us from seeing reality well. The equality and difference between women - like it is for men - permits a better understanding of the pros in any relationship, as of the cons.
For some time, we have left behind, at least in the Western world, the model of social subordination of women to men, a secular model which, first, has never managed to rid itself of all its negative effects. Above all, we have also a second model, that of mere equality, applied mechanically, and of absolute equality. It is configured as a new paradigm, that of reciprocity in equality and in difference. The relationship between man and woman, therefore, should recognize that both are necessary for they possess, yes, an identical nature, but each in its own way. One is necessary for the other, and vice versa because each fulfills the other.
The second topic: Generativity as a symbolic code. This gives an intense look to all mothers, and widens the horizon to the transmission and protection of life, not limited to the biological sphere, which we can synthesize around four verbs: to desire, to bring into the world, to take care of and to let go.
In this ambit, I have present and I encourage the contribution of so many women who work in the family, in the field of education in the faith, in pastoral activity, in school formation, but also in social, cultural and economic structures. You women are able to incarnate the tender face of God, his mercy, which is translated in willingness to give time more than to occupy spaces, to receive instead of excluding. In connection with this, I am pleased to describe the feminine dimension of the Church as the hospitable womb that regenerates us all to life.
The third topic: The feminine body between culture and biology, reminds us of the beauty and harmony of the body that God has given woman, but also the painful wounds inflicted, sometimes with cruel violence, on them in as much as women. A symbol of life, the feminine body, unfortunately not rarely, is attacked and disfigured also by those who should be custodians and companions of life.
Therefore, the many forms of slavery, of merchandising, of mutilation of women’s bodies, commits us to work toward defeating this form of degradation that reduces it to a pure object to be sold in various markets. In this context, I wish to call attention to the painful situation of so many poor women, constrained to living in conditions of danger, of exploitation, relegated to the margins of society and made victims of a disposable culture.
Fourth topic: Women and religion: fleeing or seeking participation in the life of the Church? Here believers are challenged in a particular way. I am convinced of the urgency to offer spaces to women in the life of the Church and to receive them, taking into account the specific and changing cultural and social sensibilities. To be hoped for, therefore, is a more capillary and incisive presence of women in the Communities, so that we can see many women involved in pastoral responsibilities, in supporting persons, families and groups, as well as in theological reflection.
The irreplaceable role of women in the family cannot be forgotten. The gifts of delicacy, peculiar sensibility and tenderness, of which the feminine spirit is rich, represent not only a genuine strength for the life of families, for the radiation of an atmosphere of serenity and harmony, but also a reality without which the human vocation would be unrealizable.
Moreover, it is about encouraging and promoting the efficacious presence of women in many areas of the public sphere, in the world of work and in places where important decisions are adopted, and at the same time maintaining their preferential presence and altogether special care in and for the family. It is not necessary to leave women alone to carry this weight and to make decisions, but all institutions, including the ecclesial community, are called to guarantee freedom of choice for women, so that they have the possibility to assume social and ecclesial responsibilities, in a way that is harmonious with family life.
Dear men and women friends, I encourage you to carry forward this commitment, which I entrust to the Blessed Virgin Mary, concrete and sublime example of woman and mother. And please, I ask you to pray for me and I bless you with all my heart. Thank you.
Following some words of greeting spoken by the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Pope addressed the following words to those who were present.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting with members of the
Pontifical Council for Culture
Dear brothers and sisters,
I gladly welcome you at the conclusion of your Plenary Assembly, which has involved you in reflection and research on the theme of The culture of women: equality and difference. I thank Cardinal Ravasi for the words which he has addressed in your name. I wish to express my gratitude especially to the women who are present, but also to all those - and I know that there are many - who have contributed in various ways to the preparations for and the execution of this work.
The subject that you have chosen is close to my heart; already on many occasions I have had the chance to touch on it and to invite further reflection. It is a matter of studying new criteria and procedures so that women don't feel like guests, but know that they are fully participants in the various areas of social and ecclesial life. The Church is a woman, she is feminine, not masculine. This is a challenge which can no longer be postponed. I say this to pastors of various Christian communities who come here representing the universal Church, but also to the laity who are involved in various ways in matters of culture, in education, in economics, in politics, in the world of work, in families and in religious institutions.
The order of the topics you have planned and developed for the work during these days - work which will certainly continue also in the future - permits me to point out an itinerary and to offer you a few guidelines for developing such commitment in all corners of the earth, in the hearts of all cultures, in dialogue between the various religious affiliations.
The first theme is: Between equality and difference: searching for equality. An equality that is harmonious, not only balanced. This aspect should not be understood ideologically, because the lens of ideology sometimes stops us from seeing reality well. The equality and difference between women - like it is for men - permits a better understanding of the pros in any relationship, as of the cons.
For some time, we have left behind, at least in the Western world, the model of social subordination of women to men, a secular model which, first, has never managed to rid itself of all its negative effects. Above all, we have also a second model, that of mere equality, applied mechanically, and of absolute equality. It is configured as a new paradigm, that of reciprocity in equality and in difference. The relationship between man and woman, therefore, should recognize that both are necessary for they possess, yes, an identical nature, but each in its own way. One is necessary for the other, and vice versa because each fulfills the other.
The second topic: Generativity as a symbolic code. This gives an intense look to all mothers, and widens the horizon to the transmission and protection of life, not limited to the biological sphere, which we can synthesize around four verbs: to desire, to bring into the world, to take care of and to let go.
In this ambit, I have present and I encourage the contribution of so many women who work in the family, in the field of education in the faith, in pastoral activity, in school formation, but also in social, cultural and economic structures. You women are able to incarnate the tender face of God, his mercy, which is translated in willingness to give time more than to occupy spaces, to receive instead of excluding. In connection with this, I am pleased to describe the feminine dimension of the Church as the hospitable womb that regenerates us all to life.
The third topic: The feminine body between culture and biology, reminds us of the beauty and harmony of the body that God has given woman, but also the painful wounds inflicted, sometimes with cruel violence, on them in as much as women. A symbol of life, the feminine body, unfortunately not rarely, is attacked and disfigured also by those who should be custodians and companions of life.
Therefore, the many forms of slavery, of merchandising, of mutilation of women’s bodies, commits us to work toward defeating this form of degradation that reduces it to a pure object to be sold in various markets. In this context, I wish to call attention to the painful situation of so many poor women, constrained to living in conditions of danger, of exploitation, relegated to the margins of society and made victims of a disposable culture.
Fourth topic: Women and religion: fleeing or seeking participation in the life of the Church? Here believers are challenged in a particular way. I am convinced of the urgency to offer spaces to women in the life of the Church and to receive them, taking into account the specific and changing cultural and social sensibilities. To be hoped for, therefore, is a more capillary and incisive presence of women in the Communities, so that we can see many women involved in pastoral responsibilities, in supporting persons, families and groups, as well as in theological reflection.
The irreplaceable role of women in the family cannot be forgotten. The gifts of delicacy, peculiar sensibility and tenderness, of which the feminine spirit is rich, represent not only a genuine strength for the life of families, for the radiation of an atmosphere of serenity and harmony, but also a reality without which the human vocation would be unrealizable.
Moreover, it is about encouraging and promoting the efficacious presence of women in many areas of the public sphere, in the world of work and in places where important decisions are adopted, and at the same time maintaining their preferential presence and altogether special care in and for the family. It is not necessary to leave women alone to carry this weight and to make decisions, but all institutions, including the ecclesial community, are called to guarantee freedom of choice for women, so that they have the possibility to assume social and ecclesial responsibilities, in a way that is harmonious with family life.
Dear men and women friends, I encourage you to carry forward this commitment, which I entrust to the Blessed Virgin Mary, concrete and sublime example of woman and mother. And please, I ask you to pray for me and I bless you with all my heart. Thank you.
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