Cardinal Ouellet Reflects on Lay Leadership Roles in the Roman Curia
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops, has offered a theological reflection on the growing presence of lay people and women religious in positions of authority within the Roman Curia, raising the question of whether such appointments represent a temporary concession or a genuine ecclesiological development.
In his analysis, Cardinal Ouellet revisited decisions made under Pope Francis to appoint lay men and women to leadership roles traditionally reserved for bishops or cardinals. These appointments were framed within a synodal vision of the Church that encourages broader participation of the faithful in its mission and governance. While widely respected, the move generated debate among theologians and canonists who questioned how it relates to the longstanding link between ordained ministry and the function of governing in the Church.
The Cardinal emphasized that the Second Vatican Council clearly affirmed the sacramentality of the episcopate and the connection between Holy Orders and the threefold office of teaching, sanctifying, and governing. However, he argued that this doctrinal development does not imply that sacramental ordination is the exclusive source of every form of governance within ecclesial structures.
According to Cardinal Ouellet, deeper reflection is needed on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. He suggested that sacramental theology has at times suffered from an insufficient emphasis on pneumatology, the theology of the Holy Spirit. While the sacraments are acts of Christ, they are also actions of the Church animated by the Spirit, who distributes charisms and ministries for the building up of ecclesial communion.
He proposed that the recognition of lay leadership in certain dicasteries can be understood as an acknowledgment of charisms that do not depend on ordination. Roles involving communication, financial administration, cultural discernment, justice, or the governance of Vatican City State, he noted, may require professional competence and specific gifts rather than sacramental authority. In such areas, collaboration between clergy, religious, and lay experts reflects the diversity of gifts within the Body of Christ.
Cardinal Ouellet also pointed to existing canonical provisions, including norms that allow lay people to cooperate in the exercise of governance. He argued that the Pope’s decision to appoint lay leaders does not transfer papal jurisdiction but entrusts responsibility within a framework that remains under the Supreme Pontiff’s authority.
He further observed that religious communities have long practiced internal governance rooted in charism, demonstrating that authority can be exercised legitimately outside ordained ministry when recognized by hierarchical authority. This experience, he suggested, supports broader integration of charisms into central Church structures.
In concluding his reflection, Cardinal Ouellet expressed confidence that the appointment of lay leaders in the Roman Curia represents a promising development rather than a temporary measure. By recognizing the authority of charisms alongside hierarchical ministry, the Church may address concerns about clericalism and foster a more collaborative model of governance grounded in communion and shared mission.
