Why can a woman never become Pope?

The next pope to succeed Pope Francis will almost certainly not be a woman – this is because of a tradition that dates back centuries.

The question of who will take over the role of Holy Father at the head of the Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis is an issue that arouses interest around the world, but the answer is not yet known.

The new pope must be a man

Although the Papal Conclave will not begin for at least 15 days, and decisions will be made in secret within the walls of the Sistine Chapel, it is already known that the new pope will be a man – because all 138 potential candidates are male.

Read too Who are the two main favorites to succeed Pope Francis?

Despite the more liberal approach, Pope Francis has remained firm in his stance that women cannot take on this venerable role. Theoretically, any baptized male can be considered for election, although in practice the conclave usually chooses someone who is already a cardinal. The rules require that the candidate be unmarried and already known as a priest, bishop, deacon, layman or cardinal.

This is why baptized women do not have the same opportunities – because the Catholic Church does not allow the ordination of women as priests. This is a tradition that has been followed for centuries and has existed throughout the history of 266 popes.

The role of women in the Church

This may come as surprising news to some, given that Pope Francis has been known to break with some traditions since his election in 2013 — he gave up his papal salary and decided to live in the Casa Santa Marta, a modest church guesthouse, instead of residing in the luxurious Apostolic Palace. reuters.

The Argentine cardinal, who took the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, became known as the "progressive pope" for his liberal stances on topics such as climate change and LGBTQ+ rights.

Read too Why can't the Pope be an organ donor?

He has also committed to other reforms, such as including more women in senior positions in the Vatican, and has appointed more cardinals from outside Europe than any of his predecessors — all in a vision for a more inclusive Catholic Church. Even in death, he continues to defy norms, as he will be buried outside the Vatican.

However, allowing women to be ordained has never been part of his agenda. On the contrary, he emphasized to America magazine that women have a different but equally important role in the Church. When asked by a reporter why women cannot be ordained, he replied that “why can’t a woman enter the ordained ministry? Because according to the principle of Peter there is no place for it,” the Catholic News Agency reported.

What is the Peter principle?

The Petrine principle refers to a theological idea in the Catholic Church that the pope is the successor of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles, whom Catholics consider to be the first pope. This principle is the foundation of papal authority and hierarchy within the Church. /Telegraph/