Vatican Proposes Married Men and Women in Priestly Roles 08 JUN 2018 ,Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea ARCWP, Delia Gallagher of CNN in Rome

Pope Francis during a meeting with the St. Egidio charity at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, on March 11, 2018. (Credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP / Getty Images)

By  CNN

 08:55 ET  (12:55 GMT) June 8, 2018

The most important

The Vatican is preparing to discuss new ways for married women and men to participate in the priestly ministry

Pope Francis convened a meeting in October 2019 to address problems in the Amazon region, including a severe shortage of priests

(CNN) -  A proposal to include married women and men in priestly functions is expected to be raised at a special Vatican meeting in October 2019.

LOOK: What does Pope Francis really think about homosexuality?

The Vatican is preparing to discuss new ways for married women and men to participate in the priestly ministry, according to a document published on Friday.

The  Pope Francisco  convened a meeting in October 2019 to address problems in the Amazon region, including a severe shortage of priests.

One possible solution is to allow married men to serve as priests in remote communities.

LOOK: The deaconesses intrigue Pope Francis, will there be women in the priesthood?

The Vatican says it is also looking at what "kind of official ministry can be given to women."

The bishops of the Amazon say they will ask the Pope to consider allowing both women and married men to serve as priests.

Delia Gallagher of CNN in Rome

https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2018/06/08

Vatican would propose to include married men and women in priestly roles