Mon Jan 06 13:42:24 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis Appoints First Woman to Head Major Vatican Office
**Vatican City, January 6, 2025** – In a historic move, Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to lead a major Vatican office. Sister Brambilla, an Italian nun, will serve as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, overseeing all Catholic religious orders worldwide.
This appointment marks a significant step towards Pope Francis’s goal of increasing women’s leadership roles within the Catholic Church. While women have held secondary positions in some Vatican offices, this is the first time a woman has been named prefect of a dicastery. The office’s importance is underscored by its responsibility for all religious orders, including prominent groups like the Jesuits and Franciscans.
To ensure the fulfillment of all sacramental functions, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime has been appointed as co-leader, or “pro-prefect,” alongside Sister Brambilla. The Vatican bulletin lists Sister Brambilla first, signifying her primary role as prefect.
Sister Brambilla, a 59-year-old member of the Consolata Missionaries, previously served as the number two in the religious orders department. Her appointment follows Pope Francis’s 2022 reform of the Holy See’s constitution, which enabled laypeople, including women, to head dicasteries.
This latest appointment builds upon Pope Francis’ ongoing efforts to promote women’s leadership within the Catholic hierarchy, although the ban on female priests remains in place. The number of women working in the Vatican, particularly in leadership roles, has significantly increased during his papacy. Other notable women in leadership positions include Sister Raffaella Petrini, secretary general of Vatican City State, and Sister Alessandra Smerilli, the number two in the Vatican development office.
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