A commission set up by Pope Francis to look at the role of female deacons in the Catholic Church met for the first time Friday in a move reformers hope could pave the way for female clergy.
The 13-member panel is not expected to reach any quick conclusions during its first two-day session and has not been set a deadline for it to reach conclusions.
Francis has appointed seven male and six female experts to the commission led by Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria, second-in-command of the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, the Vatican said on 2 August, announcing the panel's creation.
Almost all of the panel's members are theologians and university professors. Of the six women, two are nuns and four are laywomen.
The panel has been told to examine whether women regularly acted as deacons in the early Christian church and is seen as balanced between the conservative and progressive feminist-influenced wings of the Church.
Those who support women playing a greater role in the Catholic Church's governance say they did act as deacons in the early centuries of Christianity so there should therefore be no barrier to them doing so now.
Proponents also point to a shortage of priests. But Conservatives are wary of allowing women deacons, fearing this could open the way to women being ordained as priests.
However, Francis has however ruled out women being ordained, in line with long-established Church doctrine.
Under current rules, deacons are ordained similarly to ministers, and are men. While they cannot celebrate mass, they are allowed to preach and conduct some ceremonies, including baptisms, wakes and funerals.
Francis agreed to review of the deacon question at the request of female religious orders, whose members far outnumber monks and priests combined.
