logo
Pink smoke signals in Rome call for women priests

Pink smoke signals in Rome call for women priests

Yahoo07-05-2025

Excluded from the conclave to elect a new pope Wednesday -- and more broadly from the Church's entire global priesthood -- some Catholic women were determined that their voices will be heard.
In a park on a hill overlooking the dome of St Peter's and the church's Vatican headquarters, campaigners released pink smoke from flares, and demanded that women be allowed to seek ordination.
"We are saying to the cardinals, you cannot keep ignoring 50 percent of the Catholic population, you cannot go into a locked room and discuss the future of the Church without half of the Church," said Miriam Duignan.
"Whoever they elect needs to be brave enough to properly tackle the question of women's inclusion, because so far it has not been, even by Pope Francis," said Duignan, of the Wijngaards Institute in Cambridge.
Duignan was briefly detained in 2011 after she attempted to enter the Vatican to deliver a petition in support of a priest backing the activists' cause.
Had the activists taken their Wednesday protest -- a nod to the black and white smoke used by the Holy See to announce voting results -- to the Vatican, they believe a similar fate would have awaited them.
"Whenever we go down to St Peter's Square, we are detained by the police ... and we are certainly not invited to go into the conclave," Duignan said
"The only women that those 133 men will see in the next few days will be nuns who are cleaning their rooms and serving them food and tidying up after them."
The cardinals meeting Wednesday behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel will not hear any female opinions during deliberations expected to last days, with multiple rounds of voting.
The only women they will see before white smoke rises to announce their decision has been made will be the nuns who cook, clean and serve upon them in the Santa Marta guesthouse.
In the global church as a whole, women have begun to take some senior lay roles, a process that accelerated a little under Pope Francis's papacy.
But even those who have studied theology and church ministry are excluded from the priesthood, and only priests hold the most senior leadership roles.
"Yes, Pope Francis elevated and promoted a few women into roles of responsibility, but they are always lower in status and authority than a man," said Duignan.
"Even the youngest priest in the room is the boss of the oldest, more experienced woman."
- 'A sin and a scandal' -
The campaigners say women took equal roles in worship in the early Church, before medieval reforms, and that, in Duignan's words, "the men who are going into the Sistine Chapel this afternoon know that, and they don't want everyone else to know that."
Kate McElwee, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference campaign group, described this as an injustice and a "crisis" for the church.
"While the world may wait for white smoke or black smoke, we send up pink smoke as our hope that the Church may someday welcome women as equals," she said.
French activist Gabrielle Fidelin called it "a sin and a scandal that women are kept out of priesthood and the conclave."
According to Duignan, even after Francis's relatively reformist 12-year pontificate, only one of the 133 cardinal electors to be sequestered in conclave has taken a positive stance on women's ordination.
And she was reluctant to identify him by name, in case he found himself expelled from the gathering.
This despite the once taboo issue being given an airing in the Synod -- an assembly of clergy, clerics and laypeople -- which under Francis has included female members.
In October last year, a report was issued after Francis approved a working party to look into the idea of allowing women to become deacons -- a step before the priesthood.
It acknowledged that "the question of women's access to diaconal ministry remains open" but concluded that it was too soon to make a decision.
dc/ub/giv

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israel Boards Gaza Aid Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg
Israel Boards Gaza Aid Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Israel Boards Gaza Aid Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg speaking alongside other crew members Rima Hassan (right) and Thiago Avila (left) before the Madleen ship departed from Italy on June 1. Credit - Fabrizio Villa - Getty Images Israeli forces have intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship off the country's coast and detained its crew, including activist Greta Thunberg. The vessel, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was transporting humanitarian supplies including rice, flour, and baby formula. It has a crew of 12, including French Member of the European Parliament, Rima Hassan. FFC said the boat was stopped and boarded by the Israeli military in international waters just after 3am local time on Monday, June 9. The organization was established in 2010 and describes itself as a 'grassroots solidarity movement' working to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza through non-violent action. Before the Israel-Hamas war, Israel still maintained control over what goods entered Gaza, as well as water and electricity supplies in the strip. This began after Hamas gained control over the strip in 2007. The organization's human rights attorney, Huwaida Arraf, said its seizure 'violates international law and defies the ICJ's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.' The organization shared footage appearing to show Israeli personnel intercepting the boat. In the video, the crew have their hands raised, and a person is heard saying 'everyone, phones need to go, in the water.' Israel has dismissed the vessel as a 'selfie yacht' and said the 'tiny amount' of aid aboard would be distributed in Gaza. In a post on X, the government said the ship was being escorted to an Israeli port and that its crew would be returned safely to their home countries. It added that 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza over the last weeks, and that the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) had distributed 11 million meals in the territory since it began operations on May 26. The GHF has faced sharp criticism from the United Nations and other aid organizations, who have accused it of 'weaponizing aid'. Concerns over its operations have intensified following multiple fatal shootings of Palestinians near distribution hubs. Read more: How Closures at Food Distribution Hubs Are Impacting Gazans Here's what we know about the ship and the status of its crew. The ship, named after Gaza's first and only fisherwoman according to FFC, was launched from Sicily, Italy on June 1. The ship was carrying aid to Gaza, estimated to not be much more than a truck's-worth, but FFC said that the mission was to raise awareness of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This campaign comes a month after another FFC ship, named 'Conscience' was struck by drones and set on fire as a result of the attack while sailing in international waters. The 12-person crew included Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who said as the ship departed: 'The world cannot be silent bystanders, every single one of us has a moral obligation to do everything we can to fight for a free Palestine.' Other passengers included: Rima Hassan, a French politician. Thiago Avila, who leads FFC Brazil and is on the organization's Steering Committee. Baptiste André, Omar Faiad, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi, and Reva Viard, all French nationals. Mhamdi is a journalist for Blast; Faiad is a journalist with Al Jazeera. Yasemin Acar, an activist from Germany. Şuayb Ordu, an activist from Turkey. Sergio Toribio, an activist from Spain. Marco Van Rennes, an activist from the Netherlands. In a statement posted Monday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had intercepted the 'selfie yacht' and that the 'celebrities' on board would be returned to their home countries. The Ministry also published a video of the crew being handed water and sandwiches, saying they were safe and unharmed. Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the IDF to show the crew a video of events on October 7 2023, when Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. The government is yet to comment on allegations that the seizure of the ship breaks international law. A government spokesperson has been approached for comment. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said that France has offered to assist in facilitating the 'swift return' of the French nationals onboard the ship. In a press briefing Monday, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the U.K. government urged the situation to be resolved 'safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law'. Special Rapporteur to the United Nations, Francesca Albanese said: 'As the Madleen was reportedly intercepted and seized by Israeli forces in international waters, the UK gov must urgently seek full clarification and secure the immediate release of the vessel & its crew.' In a post on social media, Albanese continued: 'The Madleen must be allowed to continue its lawful humanitarian mission to Gaza.' Amnesty International said that Israel's interception of the ship ignores its "legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip.' 'As the occupying power Israel has an international obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient and safe access to food, medicine, and other supplies indispensable to their survival,' the human rights organisation said. Contact us at letters@

Gaza aid ship with Greta Thunberg aboard seized by Israel
Gaza aid ship with Greta Thunberg aboard seized by Israel

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Gaza aid ship with Greta Thunberg aboard seized by Israel

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 22, and several allies were taken into Israeli custody in international waters early Monday while attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, which faces a food crisis amid Hamas's ongoing war with Israel. 'The 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel,' the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) wrote in a post on the social platform X. 'The passengers are expected to return to their home countries.' Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament, also was among the passengers on the aid ship taken into custody. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organized the Madleen ship to bring supplies to Gaza with Thunberg and others, said in a news release that the vessel was 'attacked/forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military' and that 'its unarmed civilian crew (was) abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated.' 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel,' Thunberg said in a pre-recorded video the FFC released. But the MFA also posted video and photos on social media of Israeli soldiers handing out sandwiches and bottles of water to Thunberg and other flotilla riders. Israel had vowed to stop the vessel from reaching Gaza, frequently dismissing Madleen as being a 'selfie yacht' for 'celebrities,' and posted video online of a warning signal that it said was issued to the flotilla before Monday's interception. The MFA said it had legal authority to capture the Madleen because the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza is closed to unauthorized vessels under a legal naval blockade. 'All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed,' the MFA wrote in an update Monday, accusing Thunberg and others of staging a publicity stunt. 'Greta Thunberg is currently on her way to Israel, safe and in good spirits,' the administration added. The FFC, Thunberg and others have argued that Israeli forces were not allowing enough humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, prompting their mission. The International Food Policy Research Institute reported two weeks ago that the 2 million residents of the Gaza Strip are facing a severe food crisis as the war stretches more than a year and a half after Hamas's deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israeli civilians. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada released a joint statement last month that deemed the 'level of human suffering' in Gaza 'intolerable.' The Israeli government in an update on the Madleen's capture wrote that the 'tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels.' 'While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity — and which included less than a single truckload of aid — more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza,' the MFA wrote. 'There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip — they do not involve Instagram selfies.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Israel Boards Aid Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg— What's Next For the Ship and its Crew
Israel Boards Aid Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg— What's Next For the Ship and its Crew

Time​ Magazine

timean hour ago

  • Time​ Magazine

Israel Boards Aid Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg— What's Next For the Ship and its Crew

Israeli forces have intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship off the country's coast and detained its crew, including activist Greta Thunberg. The vessel, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was transporting humanitarian supplies including rice, flour, and baby formula. It has a crew of 12, including French Member of the European Parliament, Rima Hassan. FFC said the boat was stopped and boarded by the Israeli military in international waters just after 3am local time on Monday, June 9. The organization was established in 2010 and describes itself as a 'grassroots solidarity movement' working to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza through non-violent action. Before the Israel-Hamas war, Israel still maintained control over what goods entered Gaza, as well as water and electricity supplies in the strip. This began after Hamas gained control over the strip in 2007. The organization's human rights attorney, Huwaida Arraf, said its seizure 'violates international law and defies the ICJ's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.' The organization shared footage appearing to show Israeli personnel intercepting the boat. In the video, the crew have their hands raised, and a person is heard saying 'everyone, phones need to go, in the water.' Israel has dismissed the vessel as a 'selfie yacht' and said the 'tiny amount' of aid aboard would be distributed in Gaza. In a post on X, the government said the ship was being escorted to an Israeli port and that its crew would be returned safely to their home countries. It added that 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza over the last weeks, and that the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) had distributed 11 million meals in the territory since it began operations on May 26. The GHF has faced sharp criticism from the United Nations and other aid organizations, who have accused it of 'weaponizing aid'. Concerns over its operations have intensified following multiple fatal shootings of Palestinians near distribution hubs. Here's what we know about the ship and the status of its crew. Why was the Madleen heading to Gaza? The ship, named after Gaza's first and only fisherwoman according to FFC, was launched from Sicily, Italy on June 1. The ship was carrying aid to Gaza, estimated to not be much more than a truck's-worth, but FFC said that the mission was to raise awareness of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This campaign comes a month after another FFC ship, named 'Conscience' was struck by drones and set on fire as a result of the attack while sailing in international waters. Who was onboard the Madleen? The 12-person crew included Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who said as the ship departed: 'The world cannot be silent bystanders, every single one of us has a moral obligation to do everything we can to fight for a free Palestine.' Other passengers included: Rima Hassan, a French politician. Thiago Avila, who leads FFC Brazil and is on the organization's Steering Committee. Baptiste André, Omar Faiad, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi, and Reva Viard, all French nationals. Mhamdi is a journalist for Blast; Faiad is a journalist with Al Jazeera. Yasemin Acar, an activist from Germany. Şuayb Ordu, an activist from Turkey. Sergio Toribio, an activist from Spain. Marco Van Rennes, an activist from the Netherlands. What has Israel said about the ship and its interception? In a statement posted Monday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had intercepted the 'selfie yacht' and that the 'celebrities' on board would be returned to their home countries. The Ministry also published a video of the crew being handed water and sandwiches, saying they were safe and unharmed. Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the IDF to show the crew a video of events on October 7 2023, when Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. The government is yet to comment on allegations that the seizure of the ship breaks international law. A government spokesperson has been approached for comment. What international reaction has there been? French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said that France has offered to assist in facilitating the 'swift return' of the French nationals onboard the ship. In a press briefing Monday, a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the U.K. government urged the situation to be resolved 'safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law'. Special Rapporteur to the United Nations, Francesca Albanese said: 'As the Madleen was reportedly intercepted and seized by Israeli forces in international waters, the UK gov must urgently seek full clarification and secure the immediate release of the vessel & its crew.' In a post on social media, Albanese continued: 'The Madleen must be allowed to continue its lawful humanitarian mission to Gaza.' Amnesty International said that Israel's interception of the ship ignores its "legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip.' 'As the occupying power Israel has an international obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient and safe access to food, medicine, and other supplies indispensable to their survival,' the human rights organisation said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store