Cardinal Leonardo Steiner, Archbishop of Manaus (Brazil), who participates in the Synod of Synodality, affirmed that there are “many of our women are true ‘deaconesses’”, while pointing out that Pope Francis “has not closed the issue ” of the ordination of married men.
The cardinal is known for being a defender of the poor, the indigenous and also considered as “pro LGBTQ” . In the past he even stated that “there will be a way” to end mandatory priestly celibacy.
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At the 2019 Amazon Synod, the Brazilian cardinal also emerged as a firm defender of the ordination of married men, an issue on which Pope Francis would not have given a definitive word, as he said on October 15.
During the briefing that is held daily at the Press Office of the Holy See, the 74-year-old cardinal specified that during today’s session, corresponding to the third module of the Instrument of Laborthe participants of the Synod have reflected on “the places of the Church.”
In this way, he commented that the Church must be open “to listening to cultures and religions,” so that the Gospel can be “inculturated.”
About two million three hundred thousand people live in Manaus, of which there are around 30,000 Venezuelans and 675,0000 indigenous people from the Amazon.
Taking these figures as an example to highlight the cultural differences between the West and the inhabitants of his diocese, the cardinal indicated that, despite the fact that for “more than a hundred years we have lived without priests”, in the communities they have organized and continued to pray “ with various modes of prayer.”
In this sense, he highlighted that “women participate a lot” and that they are also “leaders of our communities.”
“Why not restore the ordained female diaconate?”
He stressed that he wishes “that some more distant communities can celebrate some sacraments, for example Baptism, without the presence of a priest.”
Therefore, she continued, “many of our women are true ‘deaconesses’, without this being official.” He also noted that they would like to call them “deaconesses,” since they are “deaconesses” for all intents and purposes, although he preferred not to use this term “so as not to create confusion with the ordained ministry.”
For the cardinal, “unfortunately we do not have an adequate word” for their role, but what they do and their responsibility within our Church is “admirable.”
“There are many women who guide the community, who carry forward the Word of God, who bring the community together in a moment of prayer and who are active, for example, in prison ministry, in catechism, in the activity of Caritas. They are the ones who carry out this activity, they are active alongside people on the street, they are the ones who represent our Church in many places,” he noted.
He emphasized his position in favor of the ordination of women to the diaconate and pointed out the existence of a commission that is “historically in charge of studying this issue.”
“Why not restore the ordained female diaconate? We have already had a Church like this, with this face,” he said, referring to the deacons.
“The permanent diaconate for men can advance with that of women. I think we must reflect a lot on these issues, we must go deeper and we must remember the essential and fundamental role of women in the Church.”
He also stated that “the door should not be opened to a gender issue,” but rather that it is “a question of vocations in the Church. “The vocation of women within the Church and our community.”
Responding to one of the journalists present at the press conference, the cardinal pointed out that the Amazon Synod “has opened the possibility” of holding the Synodality Synod.
Regarding this “process,” he commented that “a path has been opened in which one cannot go back,” since “there is no point of return.”
“It is essential that we are all entering into the interior of a movement that is being the Church” and to feel the responsibility of the mission through Baptism and the Grace of God.
The Holy Father “has not closed the issue” of ordaining married men
Asked about the ordination of married men, an issue that has “disappeared” from the study groups of this second and last session, the cardinal emphasized that after the Amazon Synod “there was a disillusionment on this issue.”
He specified, however, that “the Holy Father has not closed the issue” and assured that “in some reality it would not be a difficulty.”
He also expressed his hope that Pope Francis “has the ability to move forward,” while indicating that he has not wanted to do so yet due to “his great sensitivity.”
He reiterated that we must “continue talking” about this issue and that ministerialism must be “deepened,” since “sufficient steps” have not yet been taken.
“In some cultures, celibacy is a great difficulty. “This is what I feel,” he insisted.
It should be noted that, last Saturday, Cardinal Steiner said from the Sanctuary of Fátima that he “lays hands” on all those women who exercise the ministry of Baptism or other sacraments.
“These issues are very tense in the Church. We must not stop discussing and reflecting. And if in one hour we come to the conclusion that in the past there was a female diaconate, why not reintroduce it, as the permanent diaconate was reintroduced?”, reiterated the cardinal from the sanctuary in Portugal.
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
I am a graduate in Journalism and Advertising from the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. I have been a senior correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in the Vatican for two years and I am currently a European correspondent based in Spain.