Pope Francis, 88, dies on Easter; pushed for limited gender equality

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after a papacy marked by efforts to include women in leadership roles and address issues such as environmental concerns and poverty.

During his tenure, Pope Francis appointed around 20 women to positions of authority within the Vatican and granted voting rights to women at a synod meeting, marking significant but limited progress towards gender equality.

Despite these steps, Pope Francis acknowledged that changes were insufficient to achieve full equality for women in the Church, citing gender stereotypes and theological views that limit women's roles.

The International Survey of Catholic Women found widespread support among respondents for reforms allowing women to be ordained as priests and preach during Mass, highlighting ongoing frustration with limited opportunities.

Pope Francis emphasized the importance of recognizing the 'feminine nature' in church life but also expressed opposition to contemporary feminism, viewing it as a form of 'gender ideology'.

Women continue to face obstacles in decision-making roles and are still excluded from key ministries such as preaching during Mass or being ordained to the priesthood.

The survey reported that Catholic women across the world are dissatisfied with their lack of recognition and financial exploitation within church settings, underscoring the need for further reforms.