Pope Francis gives women the right to vote at bishop meeting for first time in history 

In a historic move, Pope Francis on Wednesday announced that women will be allowed to vote for the first time at a global meeting of bishops set to take place in October, in an effort to give women greater decision-making responsibilities in the Catholic Church. 

Previously, women were only allowed to attend the papal advisory body, known as synods, as observers but did not have the right to vote. The new rules allow for five religious sisters to vote. 

Additionally, the pope also announced that he would include "70 non-bishop members who represent various groupings of the faithful of the people of God" in the synods, which are usually attended by 300 people. 

The non-bishop members, which include priests, religious sisters, deacons, and Catholics in general, will personally be chosen by the pope out of a list of 140 individuals recommended by national bishops’ conferences. The Vatican asked that 50% of the members be women. 

"It's an important change, it's not a revolution," said Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a top organizer of the synod.

The new rules, which are a significant shift for the Roman Catholic Church, follow other reforms taken by Pope Francis last year to include more women in Vatican decisions:

First, Pope Francis introduced a reform allowing any baptized lay Catholic to head Vatican departments.

Second, he appointed three women to a traditionally all-male committee that advises him in selecting bishops around the world. 

In 2021, Francis made Sister Raffaella Petrini the number two position in the Vatican City and appointed Italian nun Sister Alessandra Smerilli to the number two position in the Vatican’s development office. He also appointed Nathalie Becquart, a Xaviere Missionary Sister, to the position of co-under secretary of the Vatican department that prepares synods.