Pope Francis Dies at 88 — The Papacy Remains a Role Reserved for Men
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, leaving the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in transition. As the world awaits the selection of the next pope, one long-standing rule remains unchanged: only men can ascend to the papacy.
While, in theory, any baptized man is eligible, centuries of tradition and Church law restrict the position to ordained clergy—automatically excluding women. This practice dates back to the 13th century and has held firm through the reigns of 266 popes, despite growing calls for reform and gender equality within the Church.
Pope Francis was widely seen as a progressive voice. He championed action on climate change, expressed openness toward LGBTQ+ inclusion, and promoted women to influential roles within the Vatican’s administrative hierarchy. Still, he upheld the Church’s longstanding position on female ordination, emphasizing that women’s contributions are vital, though “different but equally important.”
Even under his forward-leaning leadership, the idea of a female pope remains firmly outside the bounds of current Church doctrine.
