Pope names the first woman to lead a Vatican office

In a historic step, Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, for the first time a woman, to spearhead a dicastery of the Roman Curia.

The appointment was announced on January 6, 2025.

The 59-year-old Italian nun, Brambilla, a member of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, will head the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life with Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who was appointed pro-prefect. The 64-year-old Spaniard is the former rector major of the Salesians.

Since October 2023, the nun has been working as secretary of the Vatican department for religious and consecrated life.

Before becoming a nun, Brambilla was a nurse. In the late 1990s, she worked as a missionary in Mozambique, Africa.

Later, she returned to Italy and studied psychology, teaching at the Pontifical Gregorian University's Department of Psychology.

From 2011 to May 2024, she was the superior general of the Consolata Missionary Sisters.

Additionally, Pope Francis appointed Brambilla a member of the 16th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, together with Argentinian laywoman María Lía Zervino.

Both are the only females and non-bishops on the 17-member council.

In addition to Brambilla and Fernández, two undersecretaries, Father Aitor Jiménez Echave, CMF, and Sister Carmen Ros Nortes, NSC, are part of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

With the appointment of Brambilla and some other women, Pope Francis has taken bold steps by naming several other religious and non-religious laywomen as part of his progressive moves.

Earlier, Francis had named Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first woman to hold the second-ranking post in the government of the Vatican City State; Sister Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Sister Nathalie Becquart, an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops; and laywomen Gabriella Gambino and Linda Ghisoni, undersecretaries of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life.

Additionally, several women are appointed as secretaries of some of the Roman Curia’s commissions and councils.

From the beginning of Francis’ pontificate, the Holy See and Vatican City State have witnessed an increase in women’s appointments in key posts. From 2013 to 2023, the percentage of women went up from 19.2% to 23.4%.

After the people named Brambilla to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the UISG International Union of Superiors General said the appointment was “a historic moment for the Church.”

“It is a milestone ushering in a new era of female leadership, inspiring all religious women in the world,” UISG said in a social media post.

UISG also thanked Pope Francis for his continued support of women's leadership.

“May the Holy Spirit lead Sr. Simona and Cardinal Angel in their walk,” it added.