For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, women will participate in the Synod of Bishops that will open in the Vatican on Wednesday.

During the assembly, 464 participants, including 365 members with voting rights, will meet every day, divided into plenary sessions in five different languages.

Fifty-four of the participants will be women — nuns and laywomen who will take part in the consultations and be able to vote.

One informed observer of the Holy See, who asked not to be named, said the participation of laypeople and women will make the synodal process more effective.

The 16th Ordinary General Assembly taking place over four weeks will see bishops and other participants collaborating on ideas and solutions to some of the most contentious issues affecting the 21st century Church.

Particular attention in the upcoming discussions will be paid to the possibility of allowing women to serve as deacons, or allowing married men as priests in remote areas lacking clergy.

The multi-stage process, with a second session of the assembly scheduled for October 2024, sought input from local dioceses around the globe, with their insights and those from episcopal conferences contributing to a 50-page working document that will be used during this month's discussions.

During an ecumenical prayer vigil Saturday, Pope Francis expressed hope that the Synod would be "a place where the Holy Spirit will purify the Church from gossip, ideologies and polarization."

Pope Paul VI created the institution of the Synod in 1965.

 WITH AFP