By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) – Pope Francis has conferred for the first-time the lay Roman Catholic ministries as lector and catechist on women to Pope Francis. These roles were previously performed without institution recognition.

At a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica he conferred the ministry. He made a reference to some conservative resistance to change and criticised anyone who needs to adhere to rigid rules in order to find God.

Francis modified Church law regarding the ministry of lector/acolyte last year. This was mainly reserved for seminarians who were preparing to become priests. He wanted stability to the existing women serving these roles and to make them more publically recognized.

Acolytes are those who serve as Mass acolytes, while lectors read scripture from the Bible, while catechists help convert adults and children to the faith.

Although the ministries of acolyte and lector existed in the past, they were only available to men. Last year, Francis established the ministry of catechist.

The pope appointed six men and two women as lectors, and three men and five women as catechists at Sunday’s Mass. Francis presented a bible and a cross to every lector.

It will be more difficult for conservative bishops and dioceses to stop women from taking these roles through formalization, such as a conferral.

It will also be important to recognize women from places like Amazon (NASDAQ:), which have some of the most remote religious leaders in the world.

Vatican stressed that women will not be allowed to serve as priests in the future if they fulfill their roles. Because Jesus selected only men to be his apostles, the Catholic Church believes that priesthood is only for men.

According to supporters of a female priesthood, Jesus was following the traditions of his day and women were a more important part of the early Church than commonly recognized.

Francis has promoted a few women from lower levels to higher positions previously held by men in Vatican department offices.