Could Pope Francis appoint a woman as a cardinal? International press reports have been speculating that might happen before a meeting of cardinals next February. This week the chief Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, conceded that the idea of women cardinals was theologically and theoretically possible, because cardinals aren’t required to belong to the priesthood, which is reserved only for men; however, he went on to say that such a move for the upcoming ceremony was “not a remote possibility.”