A special commission assembled by Pope Francis to study the history
of female deacons in the early Church held its first meeting on November
25.Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, the secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is chairing the sessions.
Pope Francis announced the formation of the commission in May.
Responding to a request from the International Union of Superiors General for clarification of the status of female deacons in the early Church, the Pope said that it “will be good for the Church to clarify this point.”