Advocates for women priests respond to election of Pope Francis
For Immediate Release: March 14, 2013
Contact: Erin Saiz Hanna
+ 001 401.588.0457 (USA)
Statement from Executive Director, Erin Saiz Hanna
Rome, Italy: The Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC) congratulates Pope Francis on his election to the papacy. Today, we stood with the thousands of faithful Catholics in St. Peter’s Square and prayed for a leader who will heal our broken church. Pope Francis is known for his solidarity with the poor; we hope that his sense of justice extends to the women of the church and their capacity for divine leadership. As the Catholic church enters a new chapter, the Women’s Ordination Conference asks Pope Francis to live his Jesuit values of social justice and recognize women as equal partners in the Gospel.
WOC raised pink smoke to bear witness to the absence of women’s voices in the leadership of the Catholic church. Two vigils were held in Rome, in solidarity with ten vigils held across the United States.
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Read More:
Reuters: Women-stage protest as men-only conclave begins
Huffington Post: Pink Smoke Billows Over Vatican As Protestors Challenge Church’s Women Ordination Policy
Upworthy: Do you know what PINK SMOKE over the Vatican means?