The Catholic Church's outlook regarding women since Mulieris Dignitatem

Abstract

The central objective of this qualitative research is to explore the developments concerning the dignity of women and other related issues regarding gender and equality and the women's role and vocation in the Catholic Church. This will be studied in the light of Mulieris Dignitatem, an apostolic letter written by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1988 and subsequent documents written by his successors. The essay will examine the Church's position on the vocation of women, and the many challenges that they face in the modern world, in light of the teachings of Pope John Paul II and as developed by his successors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. The literature review studies documents and speeches issued by the three popes. Their positions have been examined from the perspective of the individual; thus a thematic analysis has been carried out through five chosen individuals active in the Church. This research shows that the contemporary Popes support fully the emancipation of women, implicating the full equality of women in the soda], political, cultural and work-related topics. Nevertheless, this research concludes that the Church needs to create more opportunities for a stronger female presence of women in the most influential ecclesiastical structures.