A years-long process to reform the Catholic Church closed Saturday, falling far short of hopes that women would be given more equity.

The yearslong synod process aimed at reforming the Catholic Church has closed with recommendations that largely disappoint those advocating for greater gender equity. While there was hope for permitting women as deacons,

The multiyear synod process had sparked great hopes for change, especially for women, who have long complained that they are treated as second-class citizens in the church.

It remains unclear what if any authority or impact the synod's final recommendations will have, given the purpose of the exercise was to provide the pope with specific proposals on reform.

A Vatican assembly on the future of the Catholic Church on Saturday said that more should be done to help women overcome "obstacles" to taking a leadership roles within the