Pope Francis appoints first woman to lead major Vatican office

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Jan 2025 21:25

Sister Simona Brambilla, 59, a member of the Consolata Missionaries, has extensive experience in religious leadership.

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Pope Francis waves during the Angelus noon prayer on the occasion of the Epiphany day from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Monday, January 6, 2025. (AP)

Pope Francis on Monday named Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing her as prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The department oversees all Catholic religious orders, from longstanding groups like the Jesuits and Franciscans to smaller, newer communities.

The announcement, made on Monday, marks a significant milestone in the Pope's ongoing efforts to give women greater leadership roles within the Catholic Church. While women have previously been appointed to second-in-command roles in some Vatican offices, this is the first time a woman has been named prefect of a dicastery, a top position in the Holy See's central governing body.

Vatican Media emphasized the historic nature of the appointment, headlining its report, "Sister Simona Brambilla is the first woman prefect in the Vatican."

To address theological requirements that only ordained men can perform certain sacramental duties, Pope Francis also named Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as a "pro-prefect" to co-lead the office. However, the official announcement listed Brambilla as the primary leader, highlighting her groundbreaking role in the Vatican's hierarchy.

Brambilla, 59, a member of the Consolata Missionaries, has extensive experience in religious leadership. She previously served as a missionary in Mozambique and led her order as superior from 2011 to 2023 before becoming the secretary of the religious orders department last year. Her predecessor, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, retires at 77.

The appointment was made possible by Francis' 2022 reforms to the Vatican's governing constitution, which allowed laypeople, including women, to lead dicasteries. This reform reflects the Pope's commitment to demonstrating that women can assume key leadership roles in the Church, even as the institution continues to uphold restrictions on ordaining women as priests or deacons.

Advancing women's roles in Vatican

Francis' papacy has seen a gradual increase in the number of women in Vatican leadership roles. According to Vatican News, the percentage of women working in the Holy See has risen from 19.3% in 2013 to 23.4% today, with 26% in the Curia.

Among the prominent women in leadership positions are Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first female secretary general of the Vatican City State, and Barbara Jatta, the director of the Vatican Museums. Other key appointments include Sister Alessandra Smerilli, second-in-command in the Vatican's development office, and Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary in the synod of bishops' office.

Despite these advancements, Pope Francis has reaffirmed the Church's ban on ordaining women as priests, stating that while women play an indispensable role in Catholic education, health care, and community life, their leadership remains within defined theological limits.