Breaking the tradition and opening a new door in the synod process, Pope Francis appointed a woman, Nathalie Becquart, a member of the Xavière Sisters, Missionaries of Jesus Christ, in France, as one of the two new undersecretaries of the Synod of Bishops. As such, she will be entitled to vote at the synod. It is the first time that this right has been granted to a woman at the synod and raises the prospect that the right can be extended to other women participating in future synods.
Some have questioned whether Sister Nathalie will have the right to vote at the synod, but sources contacted by America point to two reasons for confirming this. First, the apostolic constitution “Episcopalis Communio”, promulgated by Pope Francis on September 15, 2018, states: “The Secretary General and the Undersecretary are appointed by the Roman Pontiff and are members of the Synodal Assembly” (Art. 22, No. 3) ). Members have the right to vote. Second, in an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, speaks in Italian “possibility of partitioning with the right to vote, ”Which correctly translated into English means“ she can participate with the right to vote ”.
As another undersecretary of the synod, Pope Francis appointed a Spanish priest, Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, the assistant general of the Augustinian order, and appointed him bishop.
Pope Francis’ appointment of Sister Nathalie to this post is another affirmation of his determination to nominate women to important positions in the Vatican that do not require priestly ordination. Commenting on this appointment, Cardinal Grech recalled that “during the last synods, numerous synod fathers have stressed the need for the whole Church to reflect on the place and role of women in the Church”. He said that Pope Francis often “stressed the importance of women becoming more involved in the discernment and decision-making processes in the Church” and increased the number of women participating as experts or auditors at the synods.
Breaking the tradition and opening a new door in the synod process, Pope Francis appointed a woman, Sister Nathalie Becquart, as one of the two new undersecretaries of the Synod of Bishops.
Significantly, Cardinal Grech said: “With the appointment of Sr. Nathalie Becquart, and the possibility for her to participate with the right to vote, a door opened. We will then see that other measures can be taken in the future. ”This suggests that the possibility of voting for women in future synods is being considered. It has been requested for some time, including by several cardinals, bishops and other participants in the synod.
Cardinal Grech added: “The appointment of Sr. Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary will thus help us to concretely remember that in this synodal path the voice of the People of God has a specific place and that it is essential to find ways to encourage effective participation. of all the baptized along this path ”.
“This perspective characterized the way Pope Francis interpreted the Synod in all his pontificate,” he said.
Commenting on the appointment of Father Luis Marín de San Martín, the cardinal said: “He has extensive experience in accompanying communities in decision-making processes and his knowledge of the Second Vatican Council will be invaluable so that the roots of the ever present synodal path remain. . “
“With the appointment of Sr. Nathalie Becquart, and the possibility for her to participate with the right to vote, a door opened. We will then see that other measures can be taken in the future. ”
“The fact that both undersecretaries are religious, each having matured in a specific spirituality, shows how important it is for the synodal Church to take into account the various charisms present in the Church as well,” said Cardinal Grech. Furthermore, he affirmed, “these appointments show the importance of the path of a synodal Church being accompanied by a group that works together: the structure and way of functioning of the General Secretariat must be synodal! Working as a team allows laypeople to participate more in the dynamics of responsibility ”.
The cardinal drew attention to the fact that “synodality” is the theme of the next synod of bishops, which will take place in October 2022.
Both new nominees have an impressive curriculum vitae, as described by Vatican media.
Sister Becquart was born in 1969 in Fontainebleau, France. She obtained a master’s degree in business from HEC Paris, studied philosophy and theology at the Center Sévres de Paris and sociology at the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS) and specialized in ecclesiology at Boston College, with research on synodality. While working as a volunteer teacher in Beirut, Lebanon, she took courses in philosophy and theology at St. Joseph Jesuit University. After working as a consultant in a marketing and advertising agency for non-governmental organizations and Christian groups in Paris, in 1995 she joined the Xavières sisters, a religious congregation with roots in Ignatian spirituality.
Since then, she has worked in a variety of roles, including spiritual director of the Ignatian Youth Network in France, national coordinator of a French Scouting program for young people in urban poor areas and director of the National Service for Youth Evangelization and Vocations in France. French Episcopal Conference from September 2012 to August 2018. She served as part of the preparatory team for the Youth Synod and was an auditor at that Synod. Since then, she has followed the Vatican’s sabbatical programs at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
The elected Bishop Marín de San Martín was born in Madrid, Spain, 1961. He joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1982 and after studying philosophy and theology at the Seminario Mayor Tagaste in Madrid he was ordained a priest in 1988. He obtained a license in spiritual theology and doctorate in theology, with a thesis on the ecclesiology of St. John XXIII, from Comillas University, Madrid. He also obtained a license in dogmatic theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He served in the parish ministry for several years, served as director of Augustinian theological studies in Tagaste (1995–99) and as provincial councilor for the Augustinian Province of Spain. From 2009 to 2013, he was secretary of the Augustinian Historical Institute. Since 2004 he has been a professor at the Faculty of Theology in Northern Spain. Since 2008, he has been general archivist for the Order of Saint Augustine and assistant general for the Augustinian Order and president of the Institute of Augustinian Spirituality since 2013.