Pope Leo XIV proposes 19th-century Indian religious as a model of women\u2019s emancipation Pope Leo XIV spoke of the beatification this week of Mother Elisva Vakha\u2019i, a 19th-century Indian religious and founder of the Third Order of the Teresian Discalced Carmelites, highlighting her \u201ccourageous commitment to the emancipation of the poorest girls.\u201d \u201cThe witness of Mother Elisva Vakha\u2019i,\u201d the pope affirmed during his greetings in Italian at the end of his general audience on Nov. 12, \u201cis a source of inspiration for all who work in the Church and in society for the dignity of women.\u201d The beatification ceremony on Nov. 8 was held in the square in front of the Basilica-Shrine of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadam, Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala, and was presided over by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, bishop of Penang, Malaysia. Before thousands of faithful and men and women religious from across the country, the cardinal emphasized that the new blessed represents \u201ca beacon of hope\u201d for all \u201cconsecrated women, for all mothers, and for all those who suffer in silence and yet choose to love,\u201d according to Vatican News. A mother and widow called by God Before embracing religious life, Vakha\u2019i was married and had a daughter. She decided to take religious vows after becoming a widow, an experience that profoundly shaped her vocation and endowed her with a special sensitivity to the needs of women in her time. In a society marked by rigid cultural and religious divisions, she recognized the dignity of every person and offered concrete opportunities for education and support. In the mid-19th century, she founded an orphanage and a primary school for the poorest and most marginalized young women. Her work was not limited to mere assistance: It was a genuine commitment to the integral formation of women; she was convinced that education was the key to the social recognition of their dignity and active participation in social and ecclesial life. A pioneer of consecrated life for women in India Vakha\u2019i opened a new path for the women of Kerala, allowing them enter religious life in both the Latin and Syro-Malabar rites. Her project, deeply rooted in Carmelite and Teresian spirituality, united contemplation, service, prayer, and education. Her example inspired her own sister, Thresia, and her daughter, Anna, who joined her in founding the first Discalced Carmelite convent in Kerala in 1866, under the spiritual guidance of Italian Carmelite missionaries. Together, they fostered a community experience that, as Cardinal Francis emphasized in his homily during her beatification, anticipated ecclesial insights now associated with the synodal journey of the Church. An \u2018inclusive\u201d and \u2018synodal\u2019 vision During the homily at the beatification, the cardinal emphasized the \u201cinclusive vision\u201d of Vakha\u2019i, with which she \u201cwas ahead of her time and is a true expression of synodality in action: walking together in communion.\u201d The new blessed, he added, \u201cshows the way\u201d to the Church on its synodal journey \u201clistening, discerning, and walking together.\u201d The foundation of her \u201cunwavering faith,\u201d he affirmed, \u201clies in her spirituality, vision, and mission, all rooted in her identity as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ through baptism, the very heart of synodality.\u201d With the official recognition of her holiness, the Church proposes Vakha\u2019i as a model of evangelical life embodied in service to the poor, in the promotion of women, and in the building of fraternal communities. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA\u2019s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Victoria Cardiel Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article Pope Leo XIV expresses his \u2018profound sorrow\u2019 over death of migrants in shipwreck off Yemen Pope Francis: Be surprised by God\u2019s mercy this Advent By disarming Iran, Israel\u2019s ambassador to Vatican says his country is preventing World War III Global 2033: Preparing for the 2000th Anniversary of Christ\u2019s Resurrection Pope Francis, Christmas Urbi et Orbi 2022: “The world is experiencing a famine of peace” Pope Francis: Suffering Becomes \u2018Occasion For Transformative Encounter\u2019 With God<\/p>\n