Pope Francis has said the women he has appointed to the Vatican have proven they can be better managers than men and that there is too much male chauvinism in the Roman Catholic Church and society in general.

The pope made the remarks Sunday during a mid-air press conference on a plane returning to Rome from his four-day trip to Bahrain.

“I noticed that every time a woman gets a position (in charge) in the Vatican, things get better,” he said.

Francis was asked about the women leading the protests in Iran, but he did not answer the question, turning to the topic of the role of women in general.

Speaking about the women he appointed to leadership positions, he mentioned Sister Raffaella Petrini, the Vatican’s vice governor, who is effectively the most powerful woman in the Vatican, overseeing some 2,000 staff.

“Things have changed for the better,” he said, referring to the management skills of Petrini, who was appointed last year.

He also mentioned the influence of the five women he appointed to the department that oversees the Vatican’s finances.

“This is a revolution because women know how to find the right way forward,” he said.

Francis condemned male chauvinism, admitting it is still too much around the world, including in his native Argentina.

“Women are a gift. God did not create man and then give him a puppy to play with. He created male and female,” he said.

“A society that cannot (allow women to play a greater role) is not moving forward.”