As 115 cardinals begin the process of choosing the next pope, there is growing unrest among those calling for gender equality within the Roman Catholic Church.
Among those gathering at the Vatican this week are protesters who say the time has come to allow female priests and elevate women鈥檚 roles within the church.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been the belief, the tradition of the church鈥hat since Jesus appointed 12 men, there鈥檚 something about men that predisposes them to this ministry,鈥� said Josephine Lombardi of the Toronto School of Theology.
But critics say barring women from priesthood has no place in today鈥檚 society and the new pope needs to put a stop to the centuries-old discrimination.
鈥淲ho are we to reject God鈥檚 call of women to the priesthood?鈥� one priest said.
There was a time when Catholic women couldn鈥檛 participate in mass, sing in choirs or even touch the cloth on a church altar. Now, there are female chaplains, Eucharistic ministers and Catholic scholars. A large proportion of Catholic school teachers are women.
But Benedict XVI, who retired last month, followed his predecessors鈥� footsteps and refused to allow women to be ordained.
A recent U.S. survey found that 52 per cent of Catholics believe the church is out of touch with parishioners. More than 60 per cent said the church needs to change its stance on the ordination of women, as well as the ban on contraception and marriage for priests.
It鈥檚 believed that more than 200 Catholic women worldwide have been secretly ordained and then quickly excommunicated.
Therese Koturbash, a Canadian who is fighting the church鈥檚 position on female priests, says Catholics must challenge the status quo.
鈥淭he interesting thing is, if you are a woman who is ordained you are immediately excommunicated. I still haven鈥檛 heard of a pedophile priest who has been excommunicated,鈥� she said.
Koturbash said she and her group will release pink smoke on Tuesday as the conclave begins. It鈥檚 a sign of protest she hopes will send a message to the new leader of the world鈥檚 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
A Vatican spokesperson told reporters last week that the role of women in the church was discussed during the cardinals鈥� pre-conclave meetings, but no details were offered.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Jill Macyshon
