The Catholic church will not change its decision of not allowing women to become priests, Pope Francis has stated.
Responding to a question from a Swedish journalist during a press conference onboard his papal plane on Tuesday, the Pope said, ‘on the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, the last word is clear,' Francis said, referring to an apostolic letter written by Pope John Paul II in 1994. The letter holds that ordaining women was not possible because Jesus chose only men as his apostles. ‘It was given by St. John Paul II, and this stands.
"But for ever, for ever? Never, never?" the reporter asked in a follow-up question and Pope Francis replied, "if we read carefully the declaration by St John Paul II, it is going in that direction".
His response reiterates a position he shared in 2014 in which he said, "with regards to the ordination of women, the church has spoken and says no ... That door is closed."