The Pope's recent words at Wednesday Catechesis: "If you really want something, do everything you can to get it, even when others scold you, humiliate you and tell you to stop it."
If you really want it, keep screaming! ", they resonate as a powerful anthem for many Catholic women. It is a profound call to perseverance for those of us who long to exercise our faith with full equality within the Church.
This isn’t just an encouragement; it’s a roadmap, a declaration of principles for those of us who feel moved to transform anchored structures and to dismantle the invisible barriers that, ironically, have been erected within the very house of God.
The tension inherent in this aspiration is undeniable. Our faith invites us to humility, selfless service and obedience.
However, our deep love for the Church, a visceral love that drives us to desire it more just and full, also requires courage and determination.
Because love is not simply nodding; it is also to question with respect, to propose with conviction, and, when necessary, to raise your voice when reality deviates from the evangelical principles of dignity and equity.
Women who long to serve God and people on equal terms with men, often face a wall of misunderstanding and resistance.
This wall, built with centuries of tradition and, sometimes, with the coldness of a hierarchy proclaimed guardian of an unchanging order, has inflicted deep wounds.
Humiliation, condescending and silencing have been, for many, the daily bread in our faith walk.
We've been told that it's not their place, that our vocation is another, that our role is defined by a restrictive interpretation of writing and history.
And yet, if we really desire it, if that call echoes with divine strength in our hearts, how can we remain silent?
The papal mandate is thus becoming a standard.
This is not a blind rebellion or a capricious challenge.
It's an act of deep faith and loyalty.
Because "keep shouting" isn't merely a metaphor for protest; it's a cry of love and belonging.
It is the voice of those who, with the same devotion and zeal as their brothers, wish to contribute fully to the mission of the Church, bringing our wisdom, our compassion, and our unique gifts.
It is the insistence of those we know that the Church, in its fullness, can only be truly universal when it embraces and values all its daughters and sons equally.
The church hierarchy and clergy, who often seem to push doors to keep them closed, must understand that this is not an attack, but a call to authenticity.
It is not about undermining authority, but rediscovering the moral authority that emanates from justice and inclusion.
It is a reminder that the Church is called to be a reflection of God’s Kingdom, where there is “neither man nor woman” in terms of dignity and worth, but only beloved sons and daughters of the same Father.
Crucial Distinction: Vocation, Not Power
This aspiration for equality does not arise from a desire for earthly power or worldly ambition.
Those of us who feel that call do not seek to impose ourselves by force, but to serve through the delivery and radical follow-up of the Gospel.
Our motivation is the same that has driven countless men and women throughout Church history to rededicate their lives to Christ and His community: the vocation.
Here lies a crucial point of misunderstanding: the conviction that for a woman to feel a call to the priesthood is a genuine vocation, not a mere "illusion", as Pope Paul VI sadly expressed at the time.
For many women, this call resonates with the same strength, certainty, and inner fire as a man. It is not a whim or baseless personal longing, but a divine inspiration, an impulse of the Holy Spirit that compels us to total surrender in the sacramental and pastoral service of the Church.
Denying this vocation is not only painful for those of us who experience it, but it also impoverishes the entire church community.
It deprives the Church of unique talents, charisma and perspectives that could deeply enrich its evangelizing mission.
When the call to the priesthood is perceived as an authentic vocation, not an aspiration for power, the discussion moves from a question of authority to one of fidelity to the Spirit, which blows where it pleases and calls whomever it chooses, regardless of gender.
The Urgent Need to Listen and Forgive
Beyond the clear distinction between vocation and power, it is equally vital: the Church has a lot to listen to and ask for forgiveness from the woman.
Centuries of exclusion, marginalization and often outright suppression have left deep scars.
The pain that deeper spiritual longings are invalidated, or that the gifts themselves are not considered fit for certain ministries, is immense.
Listening to women means more than just hearing our words; it means truly understanding our experiences, ideas, theological contributions, and spiritual trajectories.
It means recognizing the profound ways in which our voices have historically been silenced or discarded.
This kind of listening should lead to genuine remorse and sincere apology for systemic injustices and individual harm inflicted in the name of tradition or perceived authority.
Only through this process of honest listening and sincere reconciliation can trust begin to be rebuilt and true communion flourish.
This road will be long and arduous.
It will require not only courage and persistence, but also a delicate mix of firmness and charity. It will be necessary to denounce the injustice loudly, but always with respect and love for the institution.
Building bridges of dialogue and extending hands where there is resistance will be critical. Because, ultimately, the goal is not confrontation, but transformation—to build a Church that is more welcoming, inclusive, and true to its own gospel message.
Women who want to be part of the Church are called to embody the perseverance that the Pope himself has praised.
Our cry, though sometimes drowned in misunderstanding, is a cry of life, faith, and hope for a Church that breathes with both lungs - the male and female - , in full equality.