The highest leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has called on the religious to respect the rights of women as members of the Church equal to men, especially with regard to taking on jobs.

The Pontiff made the announcement during a meeting with a group of male and female Catholics working in the Diocese of Rome on Saturday, May 16.

Pope Francis said that women can be promoted to high offices in the Roman Curia. However, he believes that this move would simply equate to "functionalism."

The Pope pointed out that it is much more important to allow women to have a voice as well as to give them an opportunity to be listened to because the Church values their contributions.

"When we men are dealing with a problem, we arrive at a conclusion, but if we deal with the same problem along with women, the conclusion could be different," Pope Francis said. "It could lead along the same path, but would be richer, stronger, [and] more intuitive."

Pope Francis added that women in the Catholic Church should be given this role because of the importance of their "feminine genius."

During the long meeting, the Pontiff also answered questions from members of the audience.

While answering a question about urban monasteries, Pope Francis recounted a story about a letter he received a few months ago. He said it was from a cloistered nun who was spending less time in the cloister to help serve the poor.

When the nun asked him if she was making a mistake, the Pontiff replied, "Do you have a portable grate?"

Pope Francis went on to say that through "prudence and discernment," nuns can help feed the poor with sandwiches for half an hour a week at their monastery, yet the smile they offer the poor can help the poor more than the bread will.

In his reply to a question from a consecrated virgin, the Pontiff explained how the Church is viewed as "feminine." He said that religious women are called to contemplate on "the fidelity, the love, the tenderness of Mother Church and Mother Mary."

Pope Francis urged all consecrated women in the world to frequently reflect on the Sermon on the Mount, which the Pontiff called "the first encyclical of the Church." He also cited Matthew 25, stating that the passage is "the protocol on which we all will be judged."

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