At the end of the Pontifical Council for Culture Plenary which discussed "Women’s cultures: equality and difference", Francis indicates some guidelines: the search for "reciprocity in equality and difference ", "generativity", the fight against the degradation of the female body and "a more extensive and incisive feminine presence " in the Church. Equality in difference.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The challenge of finding "new criteria and procedures so that women no longer feel like guests, but full participants of the various areas of social and ecclesial life", can no longer be postponed.  This requires guidelines such as research into "reciprocity in equality and difference", "generativity," the fight against the degradation of the female body and "a more extensive and incisive feminine presence " in the Church.

This morning's audience with the participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture, which concludes its work today on "Women's cultures: equality and difference" was the occasion for Pope Francis to return to talk about a subject that he said, "is close to my heart, and on several previous occasions I was able to touch on it and to invite further study". And today, the Pope indicated "some guidelines" to develop the theme of the plenary session "all over the world, right in the heart of all cultures, in dialogue with the various religious affiliations".

"The first issue is: between equality and difference: looking for a balance. This aspect should not be faced ideologically, because the 'lens' of ideology prevents us from perceiving the reality. The equality of women and their difference - as well as for men - can be better understood from the perspective of being with, in relation to each other and not as being against each other.  For some time now the model of social subordination of woman to man has been superseded,  at least in Western societies, a centuries old model, however, which has still to exhaust its negative effects. We have also moved beyond a second model, that of mere equality, mechanically applied, and of absolute equality. A new paradigm has gradually been configured, that of reciprocity in equality and in difference. The man-woman relationship, therefore, should recognize that both are necessary because they possess, yes, an identical nature, but each with its own modality. One needs the other, and vice versa, so as to realize the fullness of the person".

"The second theme: 'Generativity' as a symbolic code. It focuses on all mothers, and widens the horizon to the transmission and the protection of life, not limited to the biological sphere, we could synthesize it around four verbs: to desire, to give birth to, to take care of and to let go. In this context, I am aware of and I encourage the contribution of many women who work in the home, in the field of education in the faith, in pastoral activity, in education, but also in social, cultural and economic spheres. Do you know that women embody the tender face of God, His mercy, which translates into more than willingness to donate time to occupy spaces, to accept rather than exclude. in this sense, I like to describe the feminine dimension of the Church as a welcoming womb that regenerates life".

"The third issue: The female body between culture and biology, reminds us of the beauty and harmony of the body that God has given to woman, but also the painful wounds inflicted, sometimes with brutal violence, on them as women. The female body is  the symbol life, however, unfortunately, not infrequently, it is  attacked and disfigured by those who should be its guardians and companions in life. The many forms of slavery, of commodification, mutilation of women's bodies, we therefore undertake a commitment to work to defeat this form of degradation which reduces the female body to a mere object to sell on various markets. I want to draw attention, in this context, on the painful situation of so many poor women, forced to live in dangerous, exploitative situations, relegated to the margins of society and made victims of a culture of waste".

"Fourth theme: Women and religion: flight or new forms of participation in the life of the Church? Here believers are challenged in a special way. I am convinced of the urgency of offering spaces for women in the Church and to rectify it, taking into account the specific and changing cultural and social sensitivities. It is desirable, therefore, a more extensive and incisive feminine presence in the Community, so that we can see many women involved in pastoral responsibilities, in the accompaniment of persons, families and groups, as well as in theological reflection".

"We cannot forget the irreplaceable role of women in the family. The qualities of delicacy, peculiar sensitivity and tenderness, which is abundant in the female soul, represent not only a genuine force for the life of the families, for the irradiation of a climate of peace and harmony, but also a reality without which the human vocation would be impossible. The effective presence of women in many areas of the public sphere, in the world of work and in their homes in making the most important decisions is to be encouraged and promoted, and at the same time their very special presence in and preferential attention and for the family safeguarded. We cannot leave women alone to carry this burden and to make decisions, but all institutions, including the Church community , are called to ensure freedom of choice for women, so that they have the ability to take responsibility for social and church life, in a harmony with family life. "

 

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