Under new Constitution, baptised lay Catholics, women can head Vatican departments

Under the new Constitution for the Holy See central administration, any baptised lay Catholic, including women, shall be allowed to head most Vatican departments.

Pope Francis made this declaration on Saturday, March 19, 2022 in yet another move in his reformist approach in running affairs of the Church.

For centuries, only men have been allowed to hold roles of cardinals or bishops, but that is due to change starting June 5 when the new charter comes into force.

It took close to decade to conclude work on the new Constitution.

The 54-page constitution called the Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel) was released on the ninth anniversary of Francis’ installation as pope in 2013.

It will replace the Constitution that was promulgated under Pope John Paul II and released in 1988.

Its preamble read: “Pope, Bishops and other ordained ministers are not the only people who evangelise in the Church.”