On March 19, 2024, the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations and Caritas Internationalis co-organized the CSW68 side event “Fragile Contexts, Strong Women”, which discussed the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) and religious leaders in promoting women’s leadership. As Pope Francis emphasized in his 2021 address to the Women’s Forum G20, “our world needs the collaboration of women, their leadership and their abilities, as well as their intuition and their dedication.” 

H.E. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia emphasized that we should follow the example of Christ, “whose words and works always expressed the respect and honor due to women”. Beyond merely respecting women, religious communities should also recognize the particular “feminine genius” that women bring, which is a profound and unique gift which only they can offer. Catholic women, both lay and religious, have been at the forefront of efforts to carry out the Church’s work in the world; they play an irreplaceable part in caring for the most vulnerable and advancing the causes of peace and justice. However, Archbishop Caccia noted that there is still more to be done to improve the situation of women in the Church, and that religious leaders and communities should strive to honor and utilize the feminine genius in a concrete way. 

In her remarks, Ms. Kerry Robinson, President of Catholic Charities USA, stressed that when a young Catholic woman looks at the landscape of her professional life, she knows she can reach a high level, but when the same woman discerns a vocation to the Church she loves, she finds she cannot reach the same levels. So, she turns her attention instead to the secular world, where she can serve and lead fully – this reality is a grave loss to the Church. Ensuring that women occupy leadership positions in the Church will allow the Church to thrive, rather than squandering one of our greatest assets. She called for “commitment, not complacency”, specifically by allowing women to be decision-makers in this process. Those in religious communities need to ask if young women see role models at levels of leadership in the Church, and if women’s formation is being invested in. 

Ms. Helen Kezie-Nwoha, Executive Director of Women’s International Peace Center, noted the transformative power of collaboration and partnerships with FBOs. These organizations remain the most respected allies when it comes to peacebuilding, and have a deep understanding of local cultural norms and contexts. Additionally, they hold a place of moral authority and influence within their communities. Because of this, FBOs have the unique power to challenge gender norms, highlight the moral imperative of gender equality, and develop strategies and networks. Ms. Kezie-Nwoha also called religious leaders to make provisions for women at the decision-making table 

Ms. Anahit Mkhoyan, Director of Caritas Georgia, highlighted that when we want to change social attitudes to achieve social transformation, we need to examine the cultural values, and use these values to eradicate the harmful norms that lead to violence. This begins in the family & individual setting; this is where the Church can play a great role, in encouraging families and individuals to honor and promote the feminine genius. She called for all to “build an environment which embraces women’s participation” in a meaningful way, rather than simply meeting quotas without valuing and benefiting from women’s perspectives and gifts.  

Mr. Alistair Dutton, Secretary-General of Caritas Internationalis, reminded participants that women’s equality is a question of justice. Two of the essential elements of human nature are questions of dignity and our social nature, and by thwarting either of these, we are not living justly. He highlighted the African concept of “ubuntu”, which holds that “I am because we are, I am because you are”: growing in right relationship with all people, male and female, is necessary for healthy development, and a failure in this area stunts individual growth. Failing to include people from a range of backgrounds and perspectives sacrifices the quality of what can be achieved, particularly because only women can speak for what women need. He called for a change of culture to value women’s leadership, based not on arguments but on a change of heart.