Celibacy is a must for priesthood. However the Vatican is considering older married men to be priests in remote areas of Amazon. This departure from the usual order is due to shortage of clergy in these areas. It is also seeking for some kind of official ministry for women, though further details are not known. Due to shortage of priests, the Vatican is said to be considering Latin men of proven character and elderly members of the Latin Catholic community with grown up families.
As only priests have the authority to say mass and hear confessions, due to shortage of priests, many people in the Amazon area are said to go for many months without participating in any of the sacraments. Pope Francis is considering laymen as priests in isolated communities but ruled out the opening of priesthood to married men in general as celibacy is considered a necessary virtue for priests to devote their lives fully to God.
