Vatican City, 7 February 2015 (VIS) -
“Women's cultures: between equality and difference” was the theme
of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture, an
issue of great interest to Pope Francis, as he affirmed this morning
while receiving in audience the participants in the event. He
reiterated the importance of finding “criteria and new ways to
enable women to no longer feel like guests, but instead to be full
participants in the various areas of social and ecclesial life”.
“The Church is a woman, she is
female!” he exclaimed. “This is a challenge that cannot be
deferred. I say this to the pastors of Christian communities, here
representing the universal Church, but also to lay women and men
engaged in different ways in culture, education, the economy,
politics, the world of work, families, and religious institutions”,
he continued, offering an “itinerary” and a series of “guidelines
to develop this effort throughout the world, in the heart of all
cultures, in dialogue with the various religious affiliations”.
With reference to the first theme
considered in the Plenary Assembly, “Between equality and
difference: the quest for an equilibrium”, Pope Francis remarked
that this equilibrium must be harmonious, not merely a question of
balance. “This aspect must not be faced ideologically, because the
'lens' of ideology prevents us from seeing reality clearly. Equality
and difference of women – like that of men – is best perceived
from the perspective of 'with', in relation to, rather than
'against'. We have long left behind, at least in western societies,
the model of the social subordination of women to men, a
centuries-old model whose negative effects are nonetheless not yet
fully spent. We have also left behind a second model, that of parity,
pure and simple, applied mechanically, and of absolute equality. A
new paradigm has thus taken shape, that of reciprocity in equivalence
and in difference. The relationship between man and woman, therefore,
must recognise that both are necessary inasmuch as they possess an
identical nature but different modalities. One is necessary to the
other, since the fullness of the person is thus truly achieved”.
The second theme, “'generativity' as
a symbolic code”, broadens the horizons of biological maternity to
include the transmission and the protection of life. It may be
summarised in four verbs: to wish for, to bring into the world, to
care for, and to let go. The Pope acknowledges the contribution in
this area of the many women who work in the family, in the field of
education in faith, in pastoral activity, in education in schools,
and also in social, cultural and economic structures. “You, women,
know how to embody the tender face of God, His mercy, which
translates into willingness to offer time rather than occupy space,
to accommodate rather than exclude. In this sense, I like to describe
the feminine dimension of the Church as a welcoming womb for the
regeneration of life”.
“The female body: between culture and
biology”, the third point for reflection, “reminds us of the
beauty and harmony of the body God gave to women, but also the
painful wounds inflicted upon them, often with brutal violence, for
the mere fact of being women. A symbol of life, the female body is
unfortunately not infrequently attacked and disfigured by those who
ought instead to be its protectors and companions in life. The many
forms of enslavement, commodification and mutilation of women's
bodies require us to work to defeat this form of degradation that
reduces them to mere objects to be sold on various markets”. “I
wish to draw attention, in this respect, to the suffering of many
poor women, forced to life in conditions of danger and exploitation,
relegated to the margins of society and rendered victims of a
throwaway culture”, stressed the Holy Father.
The fourth theme, “Women and
religion: flight or new forms of participation in the life of the
Church?” is of particular relevance to believers. The Pope
reiterated his conviction that it is urgent to “offer space to
women in the life of the Church and to welcome them, bearing in mind
the specific features and changes in cultural and social
sensibilities. A more capillary and incisive female presence within
the Church is desirable, so that we can see many women involved in
pastoral responsibilities and in accompanying individuals, families
and groups, as well as in theological reflection”.
Finally, the Holy Father spoke about
the indispensable role of women in the family, and highlighted the
importance of “encouraging and promoting the effective presence of
women in many areas of the public sphere, in the world of work and in
places where the most important decisions are taken”, without
prejudice to their role in the private domain. “We must not leave
women to bear these burdens and take all these decisions alone; all
institutions, including the ecclesial community, must guarantee
freedom of choice for women, so that they have the opportunity to
assume social and ecclesial responsibilities, in harmony with family
life”.
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