On January 26, Pope Francis instituted 40 men and women as Lectors during Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the fourth time he has done so since his 2021 changes to Canon Law. This ceremony reflects Pope Francis’ emphasis on the “common priesthood” of all the baptized, a concept rooted in Vatican II teachings and his apostolic letter Spiritus Domini. However, the move has sparked significant debate among Catholics, as critics see it as a departure from centuries of Catholic tradition.
During the ceremony, Pope Francis handed each individual a copy of the Bible, instructing them to proclaim God’s Word and prepare others for the sacraments. This institution aligns with his 2021 motu proprio Spiritus Domini, which formally opened the previously male-only roles of lector and acolyte to women. His actions build upon Pope Paul VI’s 1972 reforms, which redefined minor orders as ministries accessible to laypeople, a shift emphasizing the “universal priesthood of believers.”
Pope Francis has framed this inclusion as a response to the needs of the contemporary Church. In his letter accompanying Spiritus Domini, he urged Catholics to embrace co-responsibility in the Church’s mission, emphasizing the dignity of baptism. He also referenced the Amazon Synod, calling for “new paths for ecclesial ministeriality” that promote the involvement of both men and women. Francis cited the urgency of recognizing baptismal dignity in consolidating a Church of active laity.
However, this development has not been without controversy. Liturgical scholars like Dr. Peter Kwasniewski and Bishop Athanasius Schneider have raised concerns about the theological implications of these changes. Dr. Kwasniewski argued that Spiritus Domini represents a “tectonic shift” by equating the dignity of baptism with active liturgical ministry, a position he critiques in his book Ministers of Christ: Recovering the Roles of Clergy and Laity in an Age of Confusion. He maintains that traditional Catholic teaching reserves liturgical ministries at the altar to men, aligning with both Scripture and two millennia of Church tradition.
Bishop Schneider has similarly emphasized the historical and theological foundations of male-only roles in the liturgy. Drawing on the Old and New Testament, as well as Eastern and Western traditions, he highlighted that liturgical service at the altar has always been restricted to men. He posits that the “common priesthood” of the laity is best represented by the faithful gathered in the nave, embodying the Church’s Marian character as recipients of God’s Word.
This ongoing dialogue reveals tensions between the Church’s historical liturgical practices and its contemporary pastoral needs. While Pope Francis’ reforms aim to acknowledge the dignity of all baptized Catholics and expand their participation in the Church’s mission, traditionalists argue that such changes risk undermining the distinct roles of clergy and laity in Catholic worship. The debate underscores the challenges of balancing fidelity to tradition with evolving understandings of ministry in the modern Church.
All faithful Catholics realize that this man cannot possibly be a true pope as since the beginning of his rule he has consistently done everything he can think of to destroy the one, true Catholic faith.
Glad the fat cat is finally out of the bag. This has been going on for far too long on Biden’s watch – those who supported this illegal action must be held accountable.
It’s time to bring the Church of Jesus Christ back to what it was before Francis.