From left to right: Doris Schmidauer, Lucia Greiner, Sr. Nathalie Becquart and Angelika Ritter-Grepl (Photo: ÖPK)

‘Synodality in the Catholic Church has only just begun, we must do our utmost to implement the resolutions of the World Synod,’ emphasises Angelika Ritter-Grepl, Chairwoman of the Catholic Women's Movement Austria (KFBÖ), following a conversation with Sr Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the Vatican General Secretariat of the World Synod of Bishops. ‘The Synod Secretariat is entrusted with the accompaniment of the reception phase in the local churches called to implement synodality in dioceses as in a note published by Pope Francis stated.’ The conversation between Sr Becquart with Ritter-Grepl and Lucia Greiner, the head of the pastoral office of the Archdiocese of Salzburg, took place at the invitation of Austria's “First Lady” Doris Schmidauer in the presidential chancellery in Vienna.

The KFBÖ Chairwoman sees Pope Francis´ decision, announced on 25 November, that the final document of the World Synod is part of his ordinary magisterium, as an important step in the implementation process. Moreover, the Pope wishes to be informed by the local churches about the implementation of the synod resolutions. As Sr Becquart said in the conversation, with regard to women, education and training measures relating to gender justice are a priority concern.

In general, Sr Becquart described the working methods of the synod as very remarkable and innovative. The ability and willingness of all those involved to engage in dialogue had grown significantly over the course of the two-year process, and a new trust had developed between bishops and women. Women and their concerns had become audible and visible. The paragraph on the role of women in the Church and their necessary empowerment (No. 60) received less approval than the other individually voted paragraphs, but still more than two-thirds. According to Ritter-Grepl, Sr Becquart explicitly emphasised that the aim was to take all steps and measures that are already possible under canon law.

During the conversation, Greiner and Ritter-Grepl expressed the concern that statements about gender in future Vatican documents and doctrinal writings should correspond to current scientific knowledge. The papal letter ‘Laudato si’, which calls for a socially and ecologically necessary change based on science, could serve as a model.

The recent conversation with Sr Becquart in Vienna was a return invitation to a meeting at the Austrian Embassy to the Holy See in 2022. The visit of a women's delegation to the Vatican had come about through the initiative of Doris Schmidauer and the then Austrian Ambassador to the Vatican, Franziska Honsowitz-Friessnigg.