The Pope has taken a significant step forward toward the inclusion of women in the Roman Curia, appointing a woman to head a Dicastery for the first time.
Sister Simona Brambilla, MC, has been designated Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Before this appointment, Sister Brambilla held the role of Secretary of this same institution.Article Key Points
Regarding the nominations, the Vatican announced that Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime has been chosen as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery. Artime was already Rector Major of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco.
Who is Sister Simona Brambilla?
Sister Simona Brambilla, a nun of the Consolata Missionaries, will turn 60 on March 27 and currently serves as superior general in Italy for the Consolata Missionaries. Before her appointment as Prefect, she gained significant missionary experience in Mozambique after obtaining a diploma in professional nursing and leading the Institute of the Consolata Missionary Sisters from 2011 to 2023. With this appointment, Sister Brambilla becomes the first female prefect in the history of the Vatican Curia.
An increase in female representation
Over the past decade, the percentage of women involved in the Holy See and Vatican City State has increased. Vatican media reports that this percentage has “increased from nearly 19,2 to 23,4 percent” from 2013 to 2023. This shift was facilitated by the 2022 Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, which paved the way for the appointment of lay people, including women, to head a dicastery. Previously, such positions were reserved for cardinals and archbishops.
Pope Francesco appointed two women to senior positions during his pontificate. In 2016, he chose Barbara Jatta as director of the Vatican Museums, a role historically held by lay people. In 2022, Sister Raffaella Petrini was named secretary general of the Governorate, a post usually assigned to a bishop.
Article published on 7 January 2025 - 08:30
It is really interesting that the Pope has taken this step forward for the inclusion of women in the Curia. Sister Simona Brambilla seems to have a long and worthy career, but I hope there are more women in high positions.