Pope Francis expands role of women in Mass but keeps priesthood off limits

Pope Francis leads a Mass for the Feast of Epiphany in St Peter’s Basilica. Picture: Remo Casilli/AP

Pope Francis changed church law to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, while continuing to affirm that they cannot be priests.

Francis amended the law to formalise and institutionalise what is common practice in many parts of the world: that women can read the Gospel and serve on the altar as eucharistic ministers.