Pope Francis is drawing on Vatican II to radically change how the Catholic Church is governed

Lay leadership As the world's priests are stretched thinner, lay people-in particular lay women-have stepped up to fill in the gaps. Since Vatican II, a robust movement of lay catechists has helped with forming the laity in Latin America; in some areas, lay people, including deacons and religious sisters, regularly lead Communion services (a service without consecrating the Eucharist) if the people do not have regular access to priests. The constitution specifically states that the Curia reform "must foresee the involvement of laymen and women, also in roles of governance and responsibility" (Sec. 1, Art. 10) and says "any member of the faithful may preside over a Department or Body, given their particular competence, power and governance or function" (Sec. 2, Art. 5). In that light, it is interesting to see that the constitution specifically outlines one role of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life as "elaborating models of leadership roles for women in the Church" (Sec. 5, Art. 131). More strikingly, the constitution's section on the Dicastery (formerly Congregation) for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments opens with a telling mission statement: "The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments promotes the sacred liturgy according to the renewal undertaken by the Second Vatican Council" (Sec. 5, Art. 88).