In a significant move, Pope Francis has allowed women to vote for the first time at a major global meeting of bishops in October. The new rule will grant voting rights

to five religious sisters at the synod, which is a papal advisory body.

Previously, women were only allowed to attend as observers. Although men will still hold the majority of votes at the gathering, the decision represents a historic first and a significant shift for the Roman Catholic Church, which has been male-dominated for centuries.

The decision has been welcomed by women’s advocacy groups as a “crack in the stained glass ceiling” and an important step towards full representation of the people of God. In addition to the voting rights granted to women, the Pope has extended voting rights to 70 non-clerical members of the religious community, with a focus on including young people and women. The reforms are an attempt to make the synod more inclusive and to allow for greater dialogue about the Church's future. Photo by Long Thiên, Wikimedia commons.