In recent years, the topic of female leadership has gained increasing prominence in ecclesial debate, aided also by the appointment of women to positions traditionally reserved for bishops and priests. It is worth recalling that women’s religious life carries a long-standing tradition of practical experience. An example of how this tradition can be reflected upon, developed, and placed at the service of the growth of ecclesial communities is the online training course “Liderazgo Pedagógico y Género”, launched last year by the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences Auxilium in Rome and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile). The course is addressed to women and men, religious and lay persons, who hold leadership roles in schools of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in South America. The training program, currently attended by 22 participants from Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay, aims to provide concrete tools to promote pedagogical leadership sensitive to gender perspectives, with particular emphasis on valuing women’s competencies within the educational community. The course does not merely present theoretical models; it encourages participants to reflect on their own experiences, attitudes, and the daily challenges of school management.

Read more at: https://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/2025-11/dcmen-010/not-better-but-different-the-challenge-of-gender-leadership.html