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| An ancient fresco depicts Phoebe, the deaconess spoken of by Paul in Romans 16;1 |
His Holiness told an international conference of religious sisters in Vatican City that he supports the creation of a commission to examine whether women should be 'reinstated' as deacons, Alleged News. [1]
The Pope called for a commission to review the history and scope of female deacons who served the church in ancient times.
Pope Francis' comments came as part of a question-and-answer session during a gathering of the International Union of Superiors General, a 500,000 member global nuns group.
Female Deacons in the Church
Women served the Church ably and well from the earliest times onwards.
St Paul himself affirmed this historical fact when he commended Deaconess Phoebe in the following words to the Christians in Rome,
'I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchrea.
Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you.
For she has been a great help to many people, including me ...' Letter to the Romans, 16;1.
Women following Christ
Women were among the last disciples at the cross, and the first at the empty tomb.
They played an enormous role in the early church.
A number of women served as leaders of the house churches that sprang up in the cities of the Roman Empire - the list includes Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia, Apphia, Nympha, the mother of John Mark.
The Apostolic Fathers mention women as stalwarts of the faith.
Twice Ignatius sent greetings to Alce, whom he called especially dear to him.
About 112 AD the Roman Governor Pliny the Younger found it necessary to interrogate the leaders of the developing church in in Bithynia, two slave women called ministrae, or deacons.
These women apparently followed in the tradition of Phoebe. [2]
Women as Deacons
As Clement of Alexandria made mention of Paul's reference to deaconesses in 1 Timothy 3:11, so Origen commented on Phoebe, the deacon Paul mentioned in Romans 16;1-2;
'This text teaches with the authority of the Apostle that even women are instituted deacons in the Church.
This is the function which was exercised in the Church of Cenchreae by Phoebe, who was the object of high praise and recommendation by Paul ... And thus this text teaches at the same time two things: that there are, as we have already said, women deacons in the Church; and that women, who by their good works deserve to be praised by the Apostle, ought to be accepted in the diaconate.' [2]
Testament of the Catacombs
The walls of the Roman Catacombs bear pictures showing women in authoritative stances, with their hands raised in the posture of a bishop.
They are depicted standing in prayer, exercising a ministry of intercession and benediction. [2]
Their steadfast witness to Jesus Christ, Son of GOD and the One we love and serve totally and wholeheartedly, remains a shining signpost to us on our journey towards our eternal home.
[1] Pope Francis calls for study on 'reinstating' female deacons, Alleged News
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/05/12/pope-francis-will-reportedly-study-the-possibility-of-female-deacons/
[2] Dr Catherine Kroeger, The Neglected History of Women in the Early Church
https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org /magazine/article /women-in-the-early-church/
With thanks to Washingtonpost.com and christianhistoryinstitute.org
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