Pope Francis has appointed two women to high Vatican positions - historically held by men.
The appointments were seen as a move forward for the predominantly male Holy See.
The Pope appointed Italian magistrate Catia Summaria as the Vatican's first woman Promoter of Justice in the city-state's Court of Appeals. He appointed Xaviere Missionary Sisters member Nathalie Becquart as the joint undersecretary of the synod of Bishops. The department is responsible for organizing meetings for bishops around the world.
As the joint undersecretary of the synod, Becquart can vote in the all-male assemblies. Women's rights groups and some bishops have been asking for the inclusion of more women in the Vatican.
The 52-year-old is also one of the youngest people to hold the position.
Women previously participated in past synods as observers or consultants only. Before her appointment, appointed or elected male representatives only - called "synod fathers" - were allowed to vote on final documents sent to the pope.
In 2018, more than 10,000 people signed a petition submitted to a synod which asked the Vatican to allow women to get a vote.
"A door has been opened. We will see what other steps could be taken in the future," the synod's secretary-general Cardinal Mario Grech said in an interview.
Pope Francis has fought to have more women in the Vatican.
Last year, Pope Francis appointed six women to ranking roles in the council in charge of overseeing the Vatican's finances. Pope Francis recently appointed women to Vatican posts in departments such as the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Press Office.
While Pope Francis has continued to uphold the Church's stance of preventing women from becoming priests, he established a committee to study women appointed as deacons. The committee was established in response to calls by rights groups asking that they be allowed to become local religious leaders.
