Sr. Esther Lucas (left) and Sr. Simona Brambilla (right)A Mozambican Catholic Nun has welcomed Pope Francis’ appointment of Sr. Simona Brambilla as the first woman to lead the Dicastery for Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, describing the appointment as a tangible step towards recognizing equality and dignity for all the baptized.
Speaking to Rádio Pax on Monday, January 13, Sr. Esther Lucas said, “In the Church, we share equal dignity. We are all members, children of God, and equal participants—men and women alike. What Pope Francis is doing is making this reality palpable within the Church.”
The Mozambican member of Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (D.C) underscored the need for concrete actions to reflect baptismal equality.
“When we speak of equal dignity among the baptized, it must translate into concrete actions,” she said, and added, “This is one such decision demonstrating equality and dignity for all baptized persons, allowing women access to leadership positions just as men have access.”
She expressed hope that roles in the Church would be based on vocation rather than gender.
“Access to service should not be limited by being male or female. It is about a call, a vocation, a ministry,” Sr. Lucas said.
She continued, “The aim is to enable participation according to each person’s God-given gifts, following the example of what the Holy Father is doing.”
“For us women, it is a great joy, a historic step, and a source of hope,” she added.
Pope Francis’ appointment of Sr. Brambilla on January 6 is part of a series of historic moves to place women in key Vatican leadership positions.
For Sr. Lucas, these reforms are significant primarily because they advance the mission of evangelization.
“The most important thing is not whether a woman holds the title of Prefect, but that these decisions enhance the visibility of the Gospel message for all,” she said.
She further explained, “If the message of salvation brought by Christ is to be heard in today’s society, we must avoid practices that hinder evangelization and adopt those that facilitate it. I believe this is what guides the Holy Father. He offers a different approach without contradicting Church doctrine.”
Reflecting on Sr. Brambilla’s qualifications, Sr. Lucas said, “Her experience as Superior General of her congregation, the Missionary Sisters of Consolata, gave her a global perspective. The Consolata Sisters are present worldwide, allowing her to engage with diverse cultural contexts and various expressions of consecrated life.”
Sr. Lucas highlighted the advantage of Sister Simona’s missionary background, particularly her experience in Mozambique. “Having lived and worked in a mission land like Mozambique is invaluable. It offers a deeper understanding of the challenges we face daily as religious women,” she said.
She further elaborated on the importance of this leadership for young churches, emphasizing better dialogue and collaboration with congregations familiar with Africa’s unique contexts.
“It brings us great joy and hopeful anticipation for more effective engagement,” Sr. Lucas said.
source: www.aciafrica.org
