World Church · October 8, 2026
Pope emphasizes the need to value women's contributions in the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV highlighted that "women's presence" in the Vatican "is a valuable asset that must increasingly be recognized and appreciated." He made this statement in a speech to representatives of the Women in the Vatican association and the Vatican Association of Lay Employees (Associazione Dipendenti Laici Vaticani, ADLV). The Pope stated that valuing women's roles is essential. Women, he said, "contribute not only with a particular sensitivity to people and relationships but also with the entire breadth of human, professional, and intellectual abilities inherent in women's experiences and perspectives." He continued, "Their competence, discernment, creativity, and practical approaches enrich the life of these institutions and contribute to promoting a broader view of reality and the challenges we face."
The Pope reiterated the "irreplaceable central position of the human being and the inviolable dignity of work," especially in light of developments in artificial intelligence. "Work is not just a tool; it expresses and reinforces the dignity in our lives," he quoted from his own encyclical Magnifica humanitas. He emphasized that particularly in the Vatican, it is important to highlight "two concepts of fundamental significance - community and unity," which he expressed are "very dear to me."
The Pope stated that all who contribute to the Pope's service through their work form a church community and share the mission entrusted to Peter and his successors. "With the same dignity, everyone contributes to the same mission," he stated. Worker associations, he continued, "can play a valuable role in promoting this spirit," but they must not "slide into a posture marked by confrontation or conflict."
When problems arise in the workplace, Pope Leo said that "the path of dialogue," which must be followed with "trust and creativity," remains "the primary way forward." He emphasized that "reviving dialogue at all levels is what I wanted to propose in my first encyclical for the entire church and for all women and men of good will," as dialogue is "an integral part of the church's calling" and "one of the foremost tools for human coexistence."