Pope Leo XIV increases lay appointments to International Theology Commission

Pope Leo XIV appointed new members to the International Theology Commission on October 19 for the 2026–2031 term. The new composition increases the number of lay representatives to eight, which is double the amount from the previous term. The number of women on the commission also rose from five to eight, including five laywomen. These figures represent 30 percent lay membership and 26.7 percent female membership for the 30-person body.

The commission, established by Pope Paul VI in 1969, assists the Holy See and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith by studying theological questions and publishing advisory documents. Members are scholars in fields such as biblical studies, patristics, dogmatics, and moral theology. The group includes clergy and laypeople from various regions, including Africa, Asia, and South America.

Pope Leo XIV has instructed the new members and six returning members to focus on the topics of tradition and the enculturation of the faith during their five-year term. The commission meets for one week each year to address global theological demands.