"French nun brings hope for Catholic women's change"

Sister Nathalie Becquart, the first female undersecretary in the Vatican's Synod of Bishops office, is leading the charge for greater participation of women in the Catholic Church. The upcoming October synod will be a referendum on the role of women in the church of the third millennium. While some conservatives view the synod as undermining the all-male, clerical-based hierarchy, Becquart and Pope Francis see the criticism as a good sign that something big and important is underway. Despite progress, veteran Vatican-watchers caution that men still run the show and that it will take more than 20 months to change the habits of 20 centuries.