Vatican Squashes Rumors that Pope Will Appoint Women to Cardinal Positions, Calls Reports 'Not Remotely Realistic'

The Vatican squashed rumors that Pope Francis would appoint at least two women to cardinal positions in February, saying that the decision was "not a realistic possibility."

Some media reports indicated that Francis was moving forward with plans to name Linda Hogan and Mary McAleese as cardinals - senior officials that constitute the College of Cardinals, which is taksed with electing a new pope. Hogan is a professor of ecumenism, while McAleese, the ex-president of Ireland, was a former professor, the Religion News Service reported on Monday. Other journalists suspected that Congo-born Italian minister of integration Cecile Kyenge could be up for the spot as well.

These speculations gained steam due partly to the fact that the Pope is an unconventional one - since assuming the position in March, he's been working to establish himself as the people's pope. He's made personal calls to people who reach out to him with problems, and he's even gone on the record as an advocate of women in the church. Two months ago, he told America magazine that "the church cannot be itself without women."

But according to a statement published in The Irish Times, Vatican Spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi said the Pope is not considering female cardinals at all.

"This is just nonsense," he stated. "It is simply not a realistic possibility that Pope Francis will name women cardinals for the February consistory. Theologically and theoretically, it is possible. Being a cardinal is one of those roles in the church for which, theoretically, you do not have to be ordained but to move from there to suggesting the pope will name women cardinals for the next consistory is not remotely realistic."