Vatican City/IBNS: The Vatican made a symbolic change for the Catholic Church by announcing that the upcoming general assembly of bishops will allow women and lay people to participate in the voting process.

"This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling," the US-based Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) said in a statement, reported AFP.

In October, Rome will host the next phase of a continuous global consultation regarding the future of the Church, and in a historic move, the upcoming voting process will not be exclusively limited to male clergy members, suggesting  that women will also have the right to cast their ballots.

New regulations were released stating that an additional 70 individuals would be selected to participate in the upcoming event.

These individuals will be chosen to represent different groups of the People of God, such as priests, consecrated women, deacons, and laypeople.

"It is requested that 50 percent of them be women and that the presence of young people also be emphasised," the rulebook said.

According to the new guidelines, Pope Francis will personally select the 70 participants.

The selection process will take into account their overall knowledge and judgement, as well as their theoretical and practical expertise.

The ongoing discussion regarding the future of the Church is addressing significant matters, such as the management of sexual abuse cases, the involvement of women, and the rights of remarried divorcees.

Since his inauguration in 2013, Pope Francis has gradually broadened the responsibilities of women and lay people.

This was particularly evident in the appointment of more women to the Curia, which is the principal governing body of the Holy See.