Pope Francis has made history by appointing Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office. Sister Brambilla, an Italian nun, will serve as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the department responsible for overseeing all Catholic religious orders worldwide. This appointment marks a significant step towards Pope Francis’s stated goal of increasing women’s leadership roles within the Church’s governance. While women have previously held secondary positions within Vatican offices, this is the first time a woman has been named prefect of a dicastery, a crucial position within the Holy See Curia.
The Vatican Media highlighted the historic nature of the appointment, emphasizing Sister Brambilla’s groundbreaking achievement. The Dicastery she will lead holds significant importance, managing all religious orders, ranging from large established groups like the Jesuits and Franciscans to smaller, newer movements. Given the novelty and theological implications of a woman holding this position, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as a co-leader, or “pro-prefect,” alongside Sister Brambilla. However, the official announcement lists Sister Brambilla as the “prefect,” reflecting the primary nature of her role. This arrangement is theologically necessary, as the prefect must be able to perform certain sacramental functions currently restricted to men.
Sister Brambilla, a 59-year-old member of the Consolata Missionaries, previously served as the department’s second-in-command. Her extensive experience includes missionary work in Mozambique and leadership within her order as superior from 2011 to 2023. She succeeds Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, who is retiring at age 77. Pope Francis’s 2022 reform of the Holy See’s constitution enabled this appointment by permitting laypeople, including women, to head dicasteries. Sister Brambilla’s background as a nurse further enriches her qualifications for this influential role.
This appointment is the latest in a series of actions by Pope Francis aiming to elevate the status of women within the Catholic Church. While maintaining the ban on female priests and deacons, the Pope has demonstrably increased the number of women in leadership positions within the Vatican. Statistics from Vatican News reveal a significant increase in female representation, from 19.3% in 2013 to 23.4% currently, with the Curia alone showing 26% female representation. Other examples of women in prominent Vatican roles include Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first female secretary general of Vatican City State, and Sister Alessandra Smerilli, the deputy head of the Vatican’s development office. These advancements, while not addressing the issue of female ordination, represent a notable shift towards greater inclusion and recognition of women’s contributions within the Catholic hierarchy.