( CNN ) -- When Pope Francis gave his now-famous , 80-minute interview on the plane back to Rome from Brazil , he was asked , not surprisingly , about the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church . He said that John Paul II had `` closed the door '' to the possibility of women priests , but he affirmed that the church lacked `` a deep theology of women . '' His comments conveyed a deep respect for women . Whatever Francis ' own virtues , however , the church will continue to be accused of sexual discrimination , especially by many Americans and Europeans , as long as it denies the priesthood to women . No matter what efforts Pope Francis makes with respect to women , if he refuses to move the ordination question forward , many , including Catholics , will consider his efforts toward women as insufficient or even hypocritical . That John Paul II `` closed the door '' to women 's ordination is undoubtedly true , but the door may not be closed for all time . After John Paul II 's pronouncement against the ordination of women , the Catholic Theological Society of America , the country 's leading professional society of Roman Catholic theologians , at its June 1997 meeting , endorsed a resolution indicating that there are `` serious doubts regarding the nature of the authority of the teaching '' that the church lacks the authority to ordain women to the priesthood and that the all-male priesthood is a truth that has been infallibly taught and that the faithful must accept . What we learned about Pope Francis in Brazil . The resolution continued that `` there is serious , widespread disagreement on this question not only among theologians , but also within the larger community of the Church , '' and recommended it be given further `` study , discussion and prayer . '' But the ordination of women is not the most pressing question for most Catholics or even for most Catholic women . Women also experience discrimination and exclusion in the secular sphere in the United States and Europe , but their exclusion and discrimination in the developing world are far greater . Throughout the world , women and their children make up the greatest percentage of human beings living in destitution . Their main concern is not women priests but food , health , education and physical safety . Francis ' genuine concern for the real lives of the poor and suffering warmly embraces women . Pope Francis is charting new territory . I do n't know how Pope Gregory the Great acted out his self-understanding of the pope as the `` servant of the servants of God '' -- the humble designation he first used -- in the sixth century , but clearly Francis sees himself as a leader who is committed to serving . Many commentators have pointed out his letting go of the material trappings of hierarchy and exclusion , from Prada shoes to papal apartments , and they have commented favorably on his compassion for the poor , his desire to lead all the faithful to a discipleship of service . Francis clearly sees himself as a disciple , and wishes to set an example like that of his namesake , from Assisi , who said , `` Preach the Gospel , using words when necessary . '' Opinion : What do pope 's remarks on gays mean ? Will Pope Francis advance the conversation regarding the ordination of women ? I suspect he will not . But I think his behavior toward all , from the most powerful to the least , but acting very explicitly without judgment and with love and compassion on behalf of the least -- most of whom are women -- will `` open the door '' to future conversation . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Alice L. Laffey .
Alice L. Laffey : « But she says many will accuse church of discrimination as long as it denies women priesthood . She says jury still out : By some theological readings , women not precluded from priesthood . Laffey : His warm stance toward women in church bodes well for taking on issues of poverty .