From the article “Donne in dialogo,” published on January 4 by the ‘Osservatore Romano – Donne Chiesa Mondo‘
It is taking its first steps, fueled by the enthusiasm of new beginnings and the awareness of urgency. “Donne in dialogo” (Women in Dialogue) is a network of women based in Rome who are connected to the Catholic Church.
These women include ambassadors to the Holy See, professors at pontifical universities, intellectuals, journalists, Vatican employees, officials in various Dicasteries, and religious women, though not all are necessarily believers.
They share the need to advocate for the dignity and rights of women, fight against gender-based violence, and empower the many who remain at the base of the pyramid despite having all the qualifications to make their voices heard in decision-making spaces, including within the Church.
They also aim to support those who wish to pursue a path of formation but lack the resources to do so.
From experience, they understand that many male counterparts—priests, bishops, cardinals—have been trained in traditional, male-centric models, as acknowledged by the recent Synod, and often struggle to collaborate equally with women. They look to Pope Francis with gratitude for having written a new chapter in the Church’s relationship with women.
“We are not a clique, not a ghetto of women somehow connected to the Vatican. I would say we are a seed—women taking a stand on responsibility within the Church and society. They try to talk to each other, to many others, and to listen,” says Sister Grazia Loparco, historian and professor at the Auxilium, the only pontifical faculty entrusted to a female religious congregation.
She was among the first to recognize the potential of such a network. “By its nature, our institute (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) is attentive to women, focusing on holistic education, including citizenship formation,” she says.
The Faculty Day is celebrated on March 8. In 2022, various ambassadors to the Vatican were invited, including the [former] Australian ambassador to the Holy See, Chiara Porro, along with colleagues who, during the pandemic, had intensified online meetings.
“Every two weeks, we exchanged ideas, inviting speakers—women working in the Vatican, cardinals, and archbishops—to discuss and also signal our presence as ambassadors,” says Porro. Initially, the group numbered about twenty; today, there are 30 resident ambassadors and another 25 who participate when possible. “We are roughly one-third of the diplomatic corps, coming from all continents.”
The ambassadors’ network collaborates with the Auxilium, engages with UISG (the International Union of Superiors General), and connects with the Pontifical Athenæum Regina Apostolorum, which coordinates the inter-university diploma program “Women and the Church.”
‘Donne in Dialogo‘
Initiatives for March 8 also bring opportunities for encounters with “Donne in Vaticano” (Women in the Vatican), the first women’s association within the Vatican, comprised of laywomen, consecrated women, or religious sisters who work or have worked in service to the Holy See.
“We are not a union; we aim to support and accompany one another while responding to the need for visibility of the female presence in the Vatican and the Church, which are still predominantly male environments,” says Margherita Maria Romanelli, a founding member who has worked at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace since 1994 and, since 2017, at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
The shared mailing list of “Donne in dialogo” now includes Caritas Internationalis. “We believe women should be a priority in our work because they are often disproportionately affected by humanitarian and other crises. In recent years, we have witnessed the feminization of poverty and the rise of violence,” says Stephanie MacGillivray, program head for “Identity and Mission: Women’s Empowerment and Inclusion.”
The Lay Centre, an international academic community founded in 1986 by two women, Donna Orsuto and Rieke van Velzen, has also joined the network.
The most recent addition is “Donne Chiesa Mondo” (Women Church World). Though not formally part of the network, the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations also collaborates with it.
Each entity retains its unique identity while contributing its expertise to the shared mission. For instance, Florence Mangin, French ambassador to the Holy See, explains that “since 2019, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has implemented a ‘feminist diplomacy’ that places gender equality at the center of its foreign policy.
This policy aims to defend and promote women’s rights globally, support feminist organizations in civil society—especially in countries where women’s rights are threatened or ignored—and ensure women take on greater responsibilities.” She adds, “This approach aligns with Pope Francis’ prioritization of promoting women’s roles in the life of the Church.”
The Pontifical University Regina Apostolorum’s work is more focused on education. “The Institute for Higher Studies on Women was established in 2003 to promote women’s contributions in all areas of society, combining research and dissemination. We have a research group on the anthropology of sexual difference and another on the impact of artificial intelligence on work, with a focus on women,” says the Institute’s director, Anita Cadavid.
Similarly academic is The Lay Centre’s contribution, “which aims to inspire and prepare future lay leaders to serve the Church in the world, with a particular focus on increasing women’s presence within Vatican institutions.” The Centre offers scholarships for studying at pontifical universities, some of which are designated for women from disadvantaged regions, says program coordinator Sara Salvatori.
Participation in the UISG network also means sharing educational content globally.
“Catholic sisters are present amid the daily struggles of people. We are building networks of solidarity and developing practical projects to combat human trafficking, welcome migrants and refugees, and address climate change and environmental destruction. Religious women serve in schools, hospitals, clinics, elderly care facilities, prisons, parishes, dioceses, retreat centers, and even Vatican Dicasteries, Commissions, and Councils,” explains UISG executive secretary, Sister Patricia Murray.
For 2025, numerous projects—conferences, training, theatrical performances—are planned and shared within the network. Joint initiatives with “Donne in dialogo” are also being explored in preparation for the Jubilee of Movements in June, the Youth Jubilee in late July, and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, as part of the “Orange the World” campaign.
