Pope Francis gives women the right to vote for the first time at crucial bishops' meeting

USA TODAY

Pope Francis on Wednesday dramatically expanded participation in the Vatican’s upcoming bishops conference, for the first time providing women the right to vote and providing more access to the faithful who are not clergy.

Changes include allowing participation of 70 non-bishop members at the Synod of Bishops set for October, including 10 from each of the seven regional conferences around the world.

The changes include a request that young people be included and that half of the additions be women. 

The synod is the Catholic Church’s top deliberative body. The first of a two-part synod gathering in Rome is expected to address church governance, the role of women in the church and perhaps the controversial recent topic – LGBTQ relationships, according to the National Catholic Reporter. ..