Pope Leo XIV's comments on women deacons celebrated by advocates, while others are skeptical

Pope Leo XIV has made his first comments about women deacons in the Roman Catholic Church, provoking celebration among advocates who want women to be able to preach at Masses and skepticism among others that the pontiff will approve the move.

Leo, speaking to an American journalist in an interview for a book, said, "I am certainly willing to continue to listen to people" about the topic of women deacons.

"I hope to continue in the footsteps of Francis, including in appointing women to some leadership roles at different levels in the Church’s life, recognizing the gifts that women have that can contribute to the life of the Church in many ways," Leo told the journalist Elise Ann Allen in comments published on Cruxnow.com.

But Leo also said, "I at the moment don’t have an intention of changing the teaching of the Church on the topic. I think there are some previous questions that have to be asked."

Advocates said overall his comments were positive and kept the door open to allowing women to serve as deacons, who can also officiate at marriages and perform baptisms. Unlike priests, they cannot celebrate Mass, hear confession or administer last rites. Deacons can be married, while priests cannot.

Phyllis Zagano, a Hofstra University research associate and a leading world expert on women deacons, called Leo’s comments "wonderful news."

She took his comments about not changing church teaching as a positive, saying there is no church doctrine that prevents women from serving as deacons.

Ellie Hidalgo, a leader of the North Carolina-based group Discerning Deacons, which is pushing for women deacons, said she was encouraged by Leo’s comments.

"The dialogue continues and he's open to listening," she said. "I think he's trying to lay out a pathway for what are the next steps forward."

But others said they did not think the comments meant Leo would move forward on women deacons.

"I think it's basically the same as Pope Francis," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior analyst at Religion News Service. "He's willing to continue to discuss it, to have people talk about it, to study it. But he's not ready to make a decision in favor of women deacons yet. No, not at all."

At another point in the interview, Leo said, "Why would we talk about ordaining women to the diaconate if the diaconate itself is not yet properly understood and properly developed and promoted within the church?"

'Studied ambiguity'

John Thavis, author of "The Vatican Diaries," said, "I didn't see much movement on the women's deacon issue or the women's ordination issue" in the interview. "It seemed to me like the pope was being his typical, cautious self."

Leo "did not close the door on women's deacons, but he certainly isn't pushing the door open," Thavis said. "It’s a studied ambiguity, which is a Vatican specialty that he seems to have already mastered."

Zagano, who was appointed by Francis to serve on a commission examining the question of women deacons, said she did not think Leo was "trying to throw cold water" on the idea.

"He will be cautious ... He's going to be deliberative," she said. But he may be "more able to support this ... discussion than Francis was."

Women deacons existed in the church through the 12th century, Zagano said.

Bringing back the practice would give women more equality in the church and help address a shortage of priests, though deacons are distinct from priests, advocates contend.

Some analysts think Leo may be hesitant to touch the hot-button issue of women deacons since he wants to be a "unifying" pope after the charismatic but controversial papacy of Francis.

Discerning Deacons is organizing scores of events around the country including on Long Island this month celebrating St. Phoebe, who, Zagano said, is the only person in Scripture referred to as a deacon. Phoebe lived in the first century.