Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla MC as the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This is the first time a woman has been appointed to lead a department of the Roman Curia, marking a historic step forward in promoting the role of women within the Catholic Church.
Sister Brambilla, who has served as Secretary of the Dicastery since 2023, brings deep experience both from missionary work in Mozambique and from leadership positions within the Consolata Missionary Sisters’ Institute.
Her appointment is not an isolated case but part of Pope Francis’ broader effort to increase women’s participation in the governance of the Church. During his pontificate, the proportion of women employed in the Vatican has steadily grown, and new opportunities have also been opened for laypeople. The apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, published in 2022, made it possible for women to hold leadership positions in various dicasteries.
The Vatican now has several female undersecretaries, directors, and administrators, such as Barbara Jatta, Director of the Vatican Museums, and Sister Nathalie Becquart, Undersecretary of the Synod.
KATT / Vaticannews.va