"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. As the public face of Pope Francis' call to listen to rank-and-file Catholics, she has overseen a canvassing of ordinary Catholics about their needs from the church and hopes for the future. The upcoming October synod will be a referendum on the role of women in the church of the third millennium, with demands that women have greater decision-making roles taking center-stage. While some view the synod as undermining the all-male, clerical-based hierarchy, Becquart and Francis see the criticism as a good sign that something big and important is underway.