Vatican plays down expectations over women as deacons in Church

A general view of St. Peter's Square as Pope Francis leads a mass to mark opening of the Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee, at the Vatican, December 8, 2015. REUTERS/Tony Gentile/Files

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican played down on Friday expectations that Pope Francis might be ready to ordain women as deacons after he had raised hopes among liberal Catholics by promising to set up a commission to study the issue.

Deacons are ordained clerics who sit just behind priests in the Church hierarchy. They can officiate at baptisms, funerals and weddings, but are not allowed to celebrate Mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick.