Pope Francis appoints first female mayor of the Vatican

Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, of the Consolata Missionaries, as the new prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life last Monday (6), the Vatican announced.

With this choice, the nun becomes the first woman to lead a body of the Roman Curia.

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According to Vatican News, Brambilla, the former superior general of the Consolata Missionaries, will turn 60 on March 27. She has missionary experience in Mozambique after training as a professional nurse and joining the Missionary Sisters of the Consolata Institute, which she led from 2011 to 2023.

 On July 8, 2019, the Pope appointed seven women members of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for the first time. Sister Brambilla was subsequently chosen first as secretary of the Dicastery and now as prefect.

Since Francis assumed his pontificate, the presence of women has increased significantly. According to general data relating to both the Holy See and the Vatican City State, between 2013 and 2023, the percentage of women increased from almost 19,2% to 23,4%.

In addition to Brambilla, Jorge Bergoglio also appointed Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, former Rector Major of the Salesians, as pro-prefect of the same Dicastery, whose mission is to “promote, encourage and regulate the practice of the evangelical counsels.” (HANDLE)