On May 12, 2016, in the course of his meeting with the participants in the Plenary Assembly of Superiors General—which took the form of a dialogue in the Paul VI Hall—the Holy Father expressed his intention to “create an official commission to study the question” of the female diaconate, “especially with regard to the early Church.”

After intense prayer and lengthy reflection, His Holiness has decided to institute the Commission for the Study of the Female Diaconate, selecting as members the following persons:

• Archbisop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (President)

• Sister Nuria Calduch Benages, M.H.S.F.N., member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission

• Professor Francesca Cocchini, of the La Sapienza University, and of the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum,” Rome

• Monsignor Piero Coda, President of the University Institute Sophia, Loppiano, and member of the International Theological Commission

• Father Robert Dodaro, O.S.A., President of the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum,” Rome and professor of patrology

• Father Santiago Madrigal Terrazas, S.J., professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical University “Comillas,” Madrid

• Sister Mary Melone, S.F.A., Rector of the Pontifical University “Anonianum,” Rome

• Father Karl Heinz Menke, professor emeritus of dogmatic theology at the University of Bonn and member of the International Theological Commission

• Father Aimable Musoni, S.D.B., professor of ecclesiology at the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome

• Father Bernard Pottier, S.J., professor at the “Institut d’Etudes Théologiques,” Brussels, and member of the International Theological Commission

• Professor Marianne Schlosser, professor of spiritual theology at the University of Vienna, and member of the International Theological Commission

• Professor Michelina Tenace, professor of fundamental theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome

• Professor Phyllis Zagano, professor at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York

Vatican Radio contributed to this article