(ZENIT News / Rome, 03.03.2025).- A historic shift in Church leadership has taken place in Austria, where the Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt has named Barbara Velik-Frank as its first female “episcopal vicar” for synodality and Church development. The appointment, announced on February 26, marks an unprecedented step in the country, but also raises questions regarding canon law, as the traditional role of a vicar is reserved for clergy.
Bishop Josef Marketz, however, has sidestepped canonical constraints by creating a new, non-canonical title specifically for women. The German term for an episcopal vicar is «Bischofsvikar», which is reserved for ordained priests. Instead, Velik-Frank will hold the distinct title of «Bischöfliche Vikarin», signaling a fresh approach to Church governance.
This appointment aligns with a broader trend in European dioceses, where lay women have increasingly taken on leadership roles. In Switzerland, multiple dioceses have appointed female episcopal delegates to oversee pastoral regions, and in Belgium, a female delegate has even been included in Eucharistic prayers during Mass.
Bishop Marketz justified his decision by referencing Pope Francis’ November 25 note on synodality, which encouraged «creative activation of new forms of ministry and mission.» The pontiff’s message, reinforcing the conclusions of the Synod on Synodality, emphasized that leadership in the Church should evolve to reflect the needs of the faithful.
“The creation of this office and the appointment of Barbara Velik-Frank are not only important steps on the synodal path but also concrete responses to the Pope’s call to strengthen the role of laypeople, particularly women, in the Church,” said Marketz. He expressed confidence that Velik-Frank would guide the synodal process effectively, ensuring the Church in Carinthia is prepared for the future.
Velik-Frank, a theologian who has spent the past three years coordinating the diocese’s Church development initiatives, embraced her new role as a significant step forward for women in Catholic leadership. “This is a special honor and a further sign of increasing leadership responsibility for women in the Church,” she said.
The Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt serves roughly 338,000 Catholics in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia. While the appointment may be seen as a progressive move in fostering female leadership, it also highlights an ongoing debate within the Church about the limits of lay authority.
This shift is part of a broader transformation under Pope Francis, who has steadily increased female participation in Vatican leadership. Since 2013, he has made several landmark appointments, including three women to the Dicastery for Bishops in 2022, as well as religious sisters to high-ranking positions in the Vatican’s governance structures.
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