Pope willing to set up study into possibility of women deacons Published duration 12 May 2016

image copyright AP image caption Pope Francis made the remarks during a meeting with members of women's orders

Pope Francis says he is prepared to commission a study into whether women can enter the Catholic clergy at the rank of deacon - one below a priest.

He was making the remarks in a closed-door meeting in Rome with senior members of women's religious orders.

Deacons are ordained ministers who can preach or preside over weddings and funerals, but can not conduct Mass.

However Vatican media reported that the Pope did not consider the possibility of ordaining women priests.

'I accept'

During a 75-minute conversation on Thursday the Pope was asked if he would be willing to create a commission to study whether women could serve as deacons.

According Vatican media, Francis said he was open to the idea: "It would be useful for the church to clarify this question. I agree.'"

image copyright AP image caption The pope gave his blessing to the idea of setting up a study into female deacons

Currently all Catholic priests and deacons are male. Priests must be celibate, but deacons can be married men.

Groups advocating women's ordination have long argued that there have been many female deacons in history.