In a historic move that underscores his desire to offer laypeople and women greater decision-making authority in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has decided to grant women the ability to vote at a next summit of bishops.

Following years of demands by women for the ability to vote, Pope Francis authorised modifications to the rules regulating the Synod of Bishops, a Vatican body that brings together bishops from all over the world for regular gatherings.

The Vatican released the amendments he approved on Wednesday, highlighting his desire for lay believers to play a bigger part in church issues that have traditionally been handled by clergy, bishops, and cardinals.

The move was immediately hailed as monumental in the history of the church by Catholic women’s organisations that have long chastised the Vatican for treating women as second-class citizens.

Men were the only genders with the right to vote prior to this. However, as part of the planned changes, five religious nuns will serve as voting representatives for religious orders, alongside five priests.

The Pope has also chosen to name 70 non-bishop members of the synod, and  has requested that 50 per cent of them be women. They’ll be allowed to vote as well.

This group of 70 non-bishop members will be recommended to Pope Francis by regional blocs with the pope having the ultimate say. The goal is to include young people among them.

Speaking on the development, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, a key synod organiser, said the shift was significant but not a revolution.

“It’s an important change, it’s not a revolution,” he said.

Sister Nathalie Becquart, a French nun who serves as the undersecretary for the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops, is the only woman currently known to be a voting member of that October gathering. Sister Becquart will attend the meeting as a result of her role. She referred to Francis as “brave” for pushing the boundaries of women’s participation when she was appointed to the position in 2021.

By the end of the next month, seven regional blocs will present Pope Francis with 20 names each for non bishop members, from which Francis will choose 10 names to bring the total to 70.

The Pontiff has done more than any other pope in recent memory to give women more influence in decision-making roles in the church, while yet upholding the Catholic Church’s ban on ordaining women as priests.

Despite the fact that he has selected several women to high-level Vatican roles, no woman now leads any of the dicasteries, or important Vatican institutions or departments.