Today is the pope’s official last day. He retires. The papal conclave will begin the long process of voting on the next pope. All men. An enclaved conclave.
I was talking with a seminary student today. She’s from a church that didn’t support her decision to enter the ministry. Because she’s female. A very small percentage of women from her denomination seek ordination, and their chances of finding a church that will receive their ministry are small.
I heard a journalist from the Vatican on the news yesterday saying that the next pope is going to have to draw a line in the sand to prevent women from getting ordained and voting, etc., while at the same time make women feel that they are still a part of the church.
They just don’t get it.