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In a historic move that has been welcomed by those seeking a more inclusive Roman Catholic Church, the Pope will for the first time allow women to vote at a global meeting of bishops in October.

In the past, women have been allowed to attend the synods, but only as observers. This year, five Religious Sisters will be granted voting rights, in an assembly consisting mostly of several hundred male bishops.

In a further break with tradition, Pope Francis announced that voting rights would also be extended to 70 hand-picked non-clerical members of the religious community, and he hoped half of these would be women.

Deborah Rose is co-director of Future Church, an organization seeking greater involvement of lay-people in the Catholic Church. She told Newsday: 鈥淭hose who have been excluded鈥�they鈥檙e going to be overjoyed鈥�but those who have a more traditional or conservative bent will be frightened by this.鈥�

(Picture: Shows Pope Francis with nuns during a weekly general audience on January 18, 2023 at Paul-VI hall in The Vatican. Credit: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images.)

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