Pope Leo XIV’s Ad Limina visit with the Vietnamese Bishops in April 2026 emphasized the active participation of women in the life of the Church, recognizing their dignity and respecting their rights. The Holy Father’s pastoral recommendation is also a Gospel imperative. In the Vietnamese context, where patriarchal values continue to shape both society and ecclesial life in a way that makes women’s role in the Church and society invisible. Pope Leo’s invitation is not simply a call to include more women in Church activities but a call to rediscover the Gospel’s vision of the equal dignity of women and men. The Church in Vietnam must become a prophetic witness by recognizing, affirming, and promoting the gifts and vocation of women. This article addresses the limited role of women in the Vietnamese Church, given the context of papal encouragement to promote women’s leadership and full participation.
The creation story in Genesis 1 shows that God creates male and female equally and, in the image and likeness of God. Pope John Paul II, in Mulieris Dignitatem, relies on the Genesis account for gender equality, recalling that the woman is created from Adam’s rib. The Pope named the woman as another “I” of Adam. The “I” is a perfect word to speak about the equality of men and women as it reflects one who is “flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23). In God, there is no distinction between male and female; rather, God loves all people equally. And through the sacrament of baptism, all men and women share the same dignity as the children of God. Therefore, any culturally-based interpretation of scripture that discriminates against women must be confronted with a liberatory reclamation that calls people to live and announce the kingdom of justice.[1] Gender equality does not stop in the Old Testament but continues in the New Testament through Jesus’ teaching and actions toward women.
The patriarchal nature of first-century Palestine restricted women’s participation in religious and social life. This was evident the Gospels describe the miracle of multiplying the loaves, stating that “Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children” (Mt 14:21). Hower, Jesus did not follow these cultural norms, rather, he promoted women’s dignity with respect and recognition. For example, the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:1-42) who spoke with Jesus at the well became an evangelizer to her village. Mary Magdalene was given the responsibility to proclaim the Good News (Jn 20:11–18) and is known as the Apostle of the apostles. Jesus’ ministry challenges cultural prejudices when he “established norms of his own culture.”[2] He restored women’s dignity by treating them with “openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness,” honoring “the dignity which women have always possessed according to God’s plan and in his love.”[3] This further reinforces that in God, there is no difference between male or female but they are equal in dignity and mission.
Vietnamese women, through their deep faith and love for the church, are present in many aspects of parish and diocesan life. However, male leadership remains dominant in Vietnamese culture, which causes women to often remain invisible and limited in their roles and leadership in Church activities. Although traditional Vietnamese family structure was matriarchal in authority and lineage, the introduction of Confucianism resulted in a change of gender roles.Confucian ideals required women to fulfill their familial duties at the cost of being excluded from receiving an education, seeking a position in society, and participating in politics.[4] Thus, women have not had a voice in public and were forced to be subordinate to male family members. These cultural traditions have shaped society, but they should not define the Church’s understanding of women. Accordingly, Pope John Paul II argued that women cannot become an “object” of “domination” and male “possession.”[5]
Although women participate in many key activities in the Church, they are often absent from pastoral consultation, parish planning, and leadership discussions. To promote women’s active participation in the Church, Pope Francis affirmed that the role of women in the Church must not be limited by acknowledging their limited roles, but insisting that “there is more!”[6] Likewise, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the Vietnamese bishops that Vietnamese women need to active participation and having a voice in Church decision-making.[7] This means that women’s voices must be heard and they must actively collaborate in planning with the male hierarchy. The Church must recognize women’s gift for the mission of the Church. As John Paul II noted, “If women are not involved in the decision-making process, the Church lacks the innate talents of women.”[8] The invitation of Pope Leo for Vietnamese Church to women is an encouragement to promote women’s dignity by living and practicing the Gospel more faithfully. Pope Leo’s message is not new but furthers the call of John Paul II and Francis to promote women’s active participation in the life of the Church.
Emulating the examples of Popes Francis and Leo to enhance women’s leadership in the Church, Asian bishops have likewise sought to recognize and promote the participation of women. For example, eleven lay women were invited to attend the Asian Synod of Bishops in 2023 to represent the women of many countries in the region to voice their thoughts, concerns, and hopes for the future of the Church.[9] This is evidence of some change that is taking place in how the Church might properly recognize and value the role of women. For Vietnam, however, the next steps must be pastorally oriented to change the societal mindset that sees women as inferior.
Dialogue among Vietnamese Catholics can help the Church recognize women’s oppression, better understand women’s roles and contributions to the Church, and could help change the Church’s perception of women as inferior and submissive. Such dialogue must begin with a serious self-examination on the gender issue to allow for a deeper understanding on the situation for women in the Church. Examining the issue of women’s inequality can help to highlight the ways in which traditional social norms have influenced Church practices and beliefs. Recognition can help the Church begin to challenge and transform the deep-rooted gender inequality and promote more inclusive practices. Addressing this issue can help to stimulate a more equitable and just community.
After recognizing that women are treated unfairly within the Church’s patriarchal system, the Church can then seek change through concrete action. One practical example is to begin with education. Educating Catholics about the important role of women in the life of the Church and of society can help to change perspectives. Exposure to the reality of history will reveal women’s strength, resilience, wisdom, and intelligence through the development of the nation and Church. Lessons about heroines and women saints can encourage women to pursue higher education and signal a shift in male attitudes towards gender roles and equality. Male leaders in the Church could implement training and mentorship programs for women that allows them to fulfill leadership positions and participate in decision-making. The bishops can allow professionally trained religious sisters or lay women to teach in seminaries and speak to priests and bishops at monthly retreats or conferences. The clergy can raise awareness about gender equality through sermons and pastoral care. Women’s leadership in the Church can cultivate mutual respect if men can recognize their unique contributions. The goal is not competition between men and women but communion in mission.
The invitation of Pope Leo XIV for Vietnamese Church is timely for a Church where the rights and participation of women remain limited. Pope Leo’s message demonstrates that recognizing women’s dignity is not optional but a part of the Church’s witness to the Gospel. Encouraging women’s participation strengthens the Church’s mission. It is in this collaboration that the Church reflects more fully the image of the People of God – united in diversity and richness in charisms. When the Church in Vietnam truly recognizes the dignity, the rights, wisdom, and gifts of women as well as promote justice and gender equality in the Church, it will become a more authentic sign of the Kingdom of God presence.
References
Affatato, Paolo. Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien: “The Church in Vietnam, Grateful for the Missionaries and Martyrs, Sings Its Magnificat.” (Online), May 18, 2026. https://www.fides.org/en/news/77694-ASIA_VIETNAM_Archbishop_Joseph_Vu_Van_Thien_The_Church_in_Vietnam_grateful_for_the_missionaries_and_martyrs_sings_its_Magnificat?fbclid=IwY2xjawTXPAlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4dzFZUElrTW5GREdGc2xuc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtN_Xta925QfqW2D-s5WI4lZN62eFKWIYrkgga3j-00-pdGpWubxxsL9lPFZ_aem_u_X_9m7SdFOAvkexlugQsw.
FABC. “Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences: Final Document of the Asian Continental Assembly on Synodality.” Fabc.org, February 2023. https://fabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACAS-Final-Document-16-Mar-2023.pdf.
Hợp Tuyển Thần Học. “Phụ Nữ Trong Hội Thánh.” Học Viện Dòng Tên Việt Nam, 2002. https://htth.net/phu-nu-trong-hoi-thanh/.
Pope John Paul II. “Mulieris Dignitatem.” Vatican Press, August 15, 1988. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19880815_mulieris-dignitatem.html.
Pope Francis. “Apostolic Journey to Rio De Janeiro on the Occasion of the XXVIII World Youth Day: Press Conference of Pope Francis During the Return Flight.” Vatican, July 28, 2013. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2013/july/documents/papa-francesco_20130728_gmg-conferenza-stampa.html.
Pope John Paul II. “Letter to Women.” Libreria Editrice Vaticana, June 29, 1995. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1995/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_29061995_women.html.
Tamez, Elsa. “Women’s Rereading of the Bible.” In Feminist Theology from the Third World: A Reader. Orbis Books, 1994.
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[1] Elsa Tamez, “Women’s Rereading of the Bible,” in Feminist Theology from the Third World: A Reader (Orbis Books, 1994), 194–95.
[2] Pope John Paul II, “Letter to Women,” Libreria Editrice Vaticana, June 29, 1995, sec. 3, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/1995/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_29061995_women.html.
[3] Pope John Paul II, “Letter to Women,” sec. 3.
[4] Quynh Thi Nhu Nguyen, “The Vietnamese Values System: A Blend of Oriental, Western and Socialist Values,” International Education Studies 9, no. 12 (January 1, 2016): 34-35.
[5] Pope John Paul II, “Mulieris Dignitatem,” Vatican Press, August 15, 1988, sec. 10, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19880815_mulieris-dignitatem.html.
[6] Pope Francis, “Apostolic Journey to Rio De Janeiro on the Occasion of the XXVIII World Youth Day: Press Conference of Pope Francis During the Return Flight,” Vatican, July 28, 2013, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2013/july/documents/papa-francesco_20130728_gmg-conferenza-stampa.html.
[7] Paolo Affatato, Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien: “The Church in Vietnam, Grateful for the Missionaries and Martyrs, Sings Its Magnificat,”(Online), May 18, 2026, https://www.fides.org/en/news/77694-ASIA_VIETNAM_Archbishop_Joseph_Vu_Van_Thien_The_Church_in_Vietnam_grateful_for_the_missionaries_and_martyrs_sings_its_Magnificat?fbclid=IwY2xjawTXPAlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4dzFZUElrTW5GREdGc2xuc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtN_Xta925QfqW2D-s5WI4lZN62eFKWIYrkgga3j-00-pdGpWubxxsL9lPFZ_aem_u_X_9m7SdFOAvkexlugQsw.
[8] Hợp Tuyển Thần Học, “Phụ Nữ Trong Hội Thánh,” Học Viện Dòng Tên Việt Nam, 2002, https://htth.net/phu-nu-trong-hoi-thanh/.
[9] FABC, “Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences: Final Document of the Asian Continental Assembly on Synodality,” fabc.org, February 2023, sec. 25, https://fabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACAS-Final-Document-16-Mar-2023.pdf.