For the third time this week Pope Francis returned to the topic of women in the Church in his general audience catechesis. On Holy Saturday he had dedicated his Easter Vigil Homily to the women as the first witnesses to the novelty of the Resurrection. On Tuesday morning he had spoken of the tears of the Magdalene and how we should follow her example of faith in our life’s journey. On Wednesday he expanded his reflections to the women of the world, whom he said have a special and fundamental role in the Church and the transmission of the faith . Departing from his scripted text, as is now his very own tradition, he appealed: “Mothers go forward with this witness to the Risen Christ!”. Emer McCarthy reports Listen: Looking out over the tens of thousands present, Pope Francis returned to the catechesis on teh Year of Fith and in particular the Creed. He spoke of how the in the professions of faith of the New Testament, only men are remembered as witnesses of the Resurrection, the Apostles, but not the women. “This is because, according to the Jewish Law of the time, women and children were not considered reliable, credible witnesses. In the Gospels, however, women have a primary, fundamental role.

Read More at Audience: The fundamental role of women in the Church.