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“Priesthood is for men, no plan to change it,” Pope Francis reaffirms
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has reaffirmed that priesthood is ‘reserved for men’ and cannot be changed to include women
The Pope has consistently reaffirmed the impossibility of female priests in the Catholic Church due to the unchanging nature of doctrine
Pope Francis reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s doctrine that women are not able to receive holy orders.
The pontiff discussed the impossibility of female ordination in a Spanish-language book published in June, titled “El Pastor: Desafíos, razones y reflexiones sobre su pontificado” – or in English, “The Shepherd: Struggles, Reasons, and Thoughts on His Papacy,”
“The fact that the woman does not access ministerial life is not a deprivation, because her place is much more important,” the pontiff said, according to translations from Catholic News Agency.
“I think we err in our catechesis in explaining these things, and ultimately we fall back on an administrative criterion that does not work in the long run.”
“On the other hand, with respect to the charism of women, I want to say very clearly that from my personal experience, they have a great ecclesial intuition,” he added.
The Italian-language version of the book was released this week and brought to public attention Pope Francis’ reaffirmation of male-exclusive priesthood.
Many activists hoped that female ordination – which has been held as inadmissible for debate by the Catholic Church for over a millennium – would be discussed at the Synod on Synodality underway at the Vatican.
The pope emphasized the church’s inability to change doctrine on the subject, but also questioned whether opening the priesthood to women would benefit the clergy.
“Lutherans ordain women, but still few people go to church. Their priests can marry, but despite that they can’t grow the number of ministers. The problem is cultural. We should not be naive and think that programmatic changes will bring us the solution,” Pope Francis said.
He added, “Mere ecclesiastical reforms do not serve to solve underlying issues. Rather, paradigmatic changes are what is needed,”
In 2019, Pope Francis spoke to the International Union of Superiors General of Women saying, “We walk on a solid just path, the way of Revelation, we cannot walk a different road[…] that alters revelation and dogmatic expressions.”
The pope concluded sharply, stating, “We are Catholics, but if any of you want to found another church you are free to go.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Saturday, charged the newly commissioned officers to place national interest above all else and uphold absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria..
He gave the charge while presiding over the Passing Out Parade (POP) of Executive Commission Course 2/2025 at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji,
General Shaibu said the commissioning of this new set of officers form a critical component of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed drive to reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture as contained in the declaration of a State of Emergency on Security.
He also said that the commissioning is part of the fulfilment of the President’s directive to expand manpower, strengthen frontline deployments and accelerate security stabilisation efforts nationwide.
The Army Chief expressed confidence in the quality of training received by the officers, noting that their exceptional display of parade and weapon handling reflects the Army’s rising standards at a time when the nation demands heightened operational vigilance.
He urged them to remain uncompromisingly apolitical, disciplined and subordinate to civil authority, stressing that professionalism and constitutional loyalty remain the bedrock of military service.
A Nigerian Air Force jet has ccrashed near Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
This was disclosed by a Niger State-based online digital television network, Lapai TV, in a post on its official Facebook page on Saturday evening.
“Two Nigerian Air Force Pilots Reportedly Survive Alpha Jet Crash Close to Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State,” the post stated
The incident was said to have occurred Saturday evening.
At the time of filing this report, the military has yet to make any official communication about the incident.
Nigeria’s security agencies have reportedly uncovered a plan by some opposition politicians to organise protests in Sokoto and other northern states against President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Fresh intelligence reports made available to journalists on Friday show that former Senator Kabiru Marafa is the main arrowhead of the plot.
The group is allegedly working to discredit NSA Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, by falsely linking them to bandit groups and using a Sokoto-based militia to trigger violent protests.
Sources say the Zamfara State Government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, is strongly backing the plan and providing funding, determined to paint the federal security team as incompetent and force the removal of both Ribadu and Matawalle.
Security operatives detected the scheme this week, monitored several planning meetings in Gusau and Abuja, blocked funding channels, and quietly disrupted the operation.
No arrests have been made, but all the key figures are now under close surveillance.
The key figures are now being monitored by security agencies to track their key sources of funding.
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