They will also examine each of the Pontifical Councils, weighing up measures for mergers and changes.

One proposal is for a new figure, a "moderator Curiae", who would coordinate the work of the various dicasteries.

Another is for a new Congregation for the Laity, which would incorporate some of the Pontifical Councils.

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In an interview with Italian newspaper Avvenire, Cardinal Walter Kasper said women need to be present at every level of the Church and given positions of full responsibility.

Cardinal Kasper, who addressed the world's cardinals at a consistory last month, criticised "clerical immobility which sometimes shows a fear to give room to women. . . ."

He said "some roles in the Church require the exercise of jurisdictional power attached to the ordained ministry".

But not all government or administrative roles in the Church "imply jurisdictional power".

Such roles could be entrusted to lay people and therefore to women as well, he said.

Women "can have roles of responsibility - high level roles as well- in bodies, that do not necessarily imply the exercise of the power of jurisdiction that comes with the ordained ministry: the pontifical councils for example".

He cited the councils for the family, laity, culture, social communication and the promotion of the new evangelisation as examples.

The fact that no women hold roles of "any importance" in these bodies is absurd, he said.

Women could also serve in some of the Vatican's congregations as under-secretaries, the cardinal said.

He questioned why there are no women theologians on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, when there are so many women scholars teaching in pontifical universities.

The work of Harvard professor Mary Ann Glendon for the Vatican at United Nations conferences was held up as a model of excellence.

"I believe that a certain number of women like this could help rid the Curia of clericalism and careerism which is a terrible vice," the cardinal said.

Former Irish president Mary McAleese made a similar call in a speech at Cambridge University on February 28.

Sources:

• La Stampa
• The Irish Times
• Image: Daily Telegraph