Spiritus Domini before Pope Francis Women as spiritual advisors in medieval Italy 

Dr. Carolyn Muessig discusses in 10 January 2021, Pope Francis, with the decree Spiritus Domini, modified canon law to create greater equality for women in the contemporary Roman Catholic Church. It may be surprising to many, therefore, that several hundred years earlier in the medieval Catholic Church women were already viewed by some monks, friars and priests as equal to men in religious learning. Focusing on medieval Italy, Professor Muessig discusses how three women - Angela of Foligno (d. 1309), Clare of Montefalco (d. 1308), and Margaret of Faenza (d. 1330) - were promoted and supported as outstanding spiritual advisors by both men and women.