Pope Francis Appoints Sister Simona Brambilla as First Woman to Lead Major Vatican Department

Jan 6, 2025, 04:20 PM

Pope Francis has named Sister Simona Brambilla, 59, 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 responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders. Previously serving as Secretary of the same institution, Brambilla’s appointment marks a historic first in the Vatican, making her the highest-ranking woman in the Roman Curia. Her role will see a cardinal reporting to her, another unprecedented move. Brambilla has also served as a missionary in Mozambique.