In an unprecedented step for the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Announced on January 6, 2025, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the appointment marks the first time a woman will lead a Vatican Dicastery.
Sister Brambilla, who will turn 60 in March, brings extensive experience to her new role. She previously served as the Superior General of the Consolata Missionary Sisters from 2011 to 2023 and has a background in nursing and missionary work in Mozambique. Her historic journey began in October 2023 when she became the second woman in history to serve as Secretary of the same Dicastery.
The appointment reflects Pope Francis’s commitment to expanding women’s roles within the Church’s leadership. Since the start of his papacy, the percentage of women working in the Vatican has increased significantly, rising from 19.2% in 2013 to 23.4% in 2023. These changes stem from the reforms introduced in the 2022 Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, which allowed laypeople, including women, to lead Vatican offices traditionally reserved for Cardinals and Archbishops.
Sister Brambilla’s appointment follows a series of historic milestones for women under Pope Francis. Other trailblazing appointments include Barbara Jatta as Director of the Vatican Museums, Sister Raffaella Petrini as Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City, and Sister Nathalie Becquart as Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops. Women leaders like Emilce Cuda, Cristiane Murray, and Maria Lía Zervino also hold influential Vatican roles.
Working alongside Sister Brambilla is Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, appointed as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery. Elevated to Cardinal in September 2023, he will collaborate with Sister Brambilla to oversee the Dicastery’s mission, underscoring the Pope’s vision of inclusive leadership in the Church.
This historic appointment is widely viewed as a significant step in Pope Francis’s broader reform agenda, highlighting the increasing recognition of women’s contributions to the Church’s mission and governance.
