Irish Examiner view: Pope must seize chance for change

When Jorge Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope, expectations were high that he would transform the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis waves to faithful during the Angelus noon prayer in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican,  recently. Picture: AP Photo

Known for shunning the trappings and luxuries of former Buenos Aires cardinals, it was hoped Pope Francis, the first Bishop of Rome to be elected from the Americas, would modernise the Church which provides spiritual guidance for more than 1.3bn Catholics, through radical reform.

He has spoken eloquently about the suffering of women, acknowledged the “male authoritarianism” of the Church and yet continues to deny women a level playing field — through ordination or decision-making power — in the Church’s future.