By Li Hongmei

Newly restored frescoes from the Catacombs of Priscilla were presented by Vatican on Tuesday. Some of them reveal women as priests in the early Christianity.

The Catacombs, which are located in the northern part of Rome, and better known as the "Queen of the catacombs", feature 4th century paintings from biblical scenes, Peter and Paul as well as two images showing women as priests.

One scene shows women celebrating the Eucharist, the other one reveals a woman in a robe with her hands in a worshiping gesture. These paintings prove that there were women priests back in early stages of Christianity, which raises the question why couldn't there be now?

However, Vatican is not eager to agree with that. According to Fabrizio Bisconti, the superintendent of the Vatican's sacred archaeology commission, the women on the picture are not celebrating Eucharist, it is not even a mass on the image, rather a funeral procession. The other picture, Bisconti states shows nothing more than just a woman praying.

"These are readings of the past that are a bit sensationalistic but aren't trustworthy," he said.

It is important to note that the Vatican does not allow women to become priests saying that Jesus chose only men among his apostles.