Francis stressed the significance of lay ministers serving others rather than inflating their egos.

"I get angry when I see lay ministers who — pardon the expression — are ‘puffed up' by this ministry. This is ministry, but it is not Christian."

Ministers must never become self-referential, said Francis.

Service is one-directional, it is not a round trip.

In the speech, he stated that regardless of whether they hold a formal ministry, all baptised individuals are called to participate in the Church's mission.

He stated that the ministry of the faithful stems from the charism that the Holy Spirit distributes within the People of God for its edification.

First, a charism appears, inspired by the Spirit; then, the Church acknowledges this charism as a useful service to the community; finally, in a third moment, it is introduced, and a specific ministry spreads.

The Pope made these remarks in an April 22 address to the second plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

"Those who command should make themselves the smallest"

Concluding his address, Pope Francis stated that ministry has two key features: mission and service.

He emphasised that at the root of the term ministry is the word minus, which means 'minor'.

And Jesus said so: Those who command should make themselves the smallest. Otherwise, they do not know how to command. It is a small detail but of great importance. Those who follow Jesus are not afraid to make themselves ‘inferior,' ‘minor,' to place themselves at the service of others," the Pope said.

"Here lies the true motivation that must inspire any of faithful who assume an ecclesial task, any commitment to Christian witness in the reality where he or she lives: the willingness to serve the brethren, and in them, to serve Christ.

"Only in this way may all the baptised be able to discover the meaning of their own life, joyfully experiencing being ‘a mission on this earth,' that is, being called, in different ways and forms, to ‘bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing, and freeing' ... and letting themselves be accompanied," he said.

Pope Francis established the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in 2016. The Dicastery held its first plenary assembly in 2019, devoted to "the identity and mission of the lay faithful in the world."

Sources

Catholic Culture

Catholic News Agency

The conference has been held at the Vatican on International Women's Day - celebrated on 8 March, since 2014.

The list of potential speakers at the conference required approval from a cardinal. Mrs McAleese and two other nominees (neither of whom have been named) were not granted permission to participate.

Their attendance was opposed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

No reasons were given, according to Chantal Götz, managing director of Voices of Faith. However, she notes McAleese has been outspoken on gay rights and women's ordination.

As a result of the Vatican decision, Götz says organisers have changed the conference venue.

It will now be held outside the Vatican, so will not require Vatican approval for choosing speakers and panel members.

The organisers have also changed the name of the conference to "Why Women Matter", and have invited McAleese to attend as a keynote speaker.

She had previously been asked to take part in a panel discussion at the event.

McAleese, who has studied for a doctorate in canon law at the Gregorian University in Rome, has written to Pope Francis about the situation.

She says she will not make any further comment on the matter as she is waiting to see if the pope responds to her letter.

The conference brings together Catholic women from across the globe to share their experiences and create dialogue with leaders on gender equality, inclusion and leadership.

It is seeking to convince the Vatican that women "have the expertise, skills and gifts to play a full leadership role in the church".

The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, says neither he nor his office were consulted by the Vatican in relation to the list of speakers for the event.

Source

• Brinkwire
• Irish Times
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: The Telegraph

Professor Gabriella Gambino is the undersecretary for the section for life, while Dr Linda Ghisoni has been appointed to to the section for the laity.

Gambino has a doctorate in bioethics from the Institute of Bioethics at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome.

She is the adjunct Professor of Bioethics at the Faculty of Philosophy and is a researcher and associate professor in Philosophy of Law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

In addition, she is a professor at the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for the Sciences of Marriage and Family at the Lateran University. She has written numerous publications on the themes of life, marriage and family.

Ghisoni has a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a diploma as Rotary lawyer from the Studium rotale of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota. She also has a diploma in administrative practice at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

At present Ghisoni is a judge at the Tribunal of First Instance of the Vicariate of Rome, a professor at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical Gregorian University, and is a lecturer in the Department of Law of the University Roma Tre. She is the author of several scientific publications on canon law.

From 2013 to 2016 she collaborated with the Pontifical Council for Laity in the field of specialist laity studies in the Church.

Among other roles, Ghisoni has served as Judge of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota and as a member of the Commission for the Defence of the Bond in the causes of the annulment of unconsummated marriage at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life officially began its work in September last year. It replaced the former Pontifical Council for the Laity and Pontifical Council for the Family, which were dissolved.

Source

• Ansa en Vatican
• The Tablet
• America Magazine
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Zenit