First Woman Prefect: Pope Names Sister Simona Brambilla to Lead Vatican's Dicastery for Consecrated Life

Jan 6, 2025, 02:45 PM

Pope Francis has appointed Italian nun Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office, naming her the prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life, which oversees all of the Catholic Church's religious orders. Previously serving as the secretary of the same institution, Sister Brambilla's historic appointment marks the first time a woman has been named a Prefect in the Vatican, reflecting Pope Francis's efforts to increase women's leadership roles within the Church's governance.