On Monday, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as head of the administration Vatican office she oversees religious orders for both men and women, including more than a quarter of the world's priests, making her the first woman to reach the No. 1 position in an office at the Holy See.
The choice reflects Francis' goal of giving women greater leadership roles in the Roman Catholic Church. He appointed several women to high positions, including the director of the Vatican museums. Sister Brambilla is the first prefect of the Romans department Curiaas the central office of the church is known.
“This is very good news,” said theologian Anne-Marie Pelletier. women and the church. “This is something completely new” and shows what can be done in the church. “For me, this is a really important moment.”
But alongside Sister Brambilla, Francis appointed Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artim as pro-prefect or co-president of the department. It was not immediately clear how the two would share responsibilities, and some critics saw the joint appointment as undermining the Brambilla sister's influential role.
“It would be great news to have a woman as a prefect, if it wasn't for the fact that she has someone with her, it's like appointing a guardian who can watch over her,” he said. Lucetta Scarafiaecclesiastical historian and feminist, said that the designation was “window dressing” in this context.
Sister Brambilla will lead the department – its official name is the Dicastery for Institutes of Apostolic Life and Societies of Apostolic Life – which promotes and oversees men's and women's religious orders, although the vast majority are for women. according to Vatican statistics About 128,500 priests — more than 25 percent of the world's total — belonged to orders such as the Jesuits and Franciscans by 2022, as well as fewer than 50,000 friars, according to data published last year. In 2022, the number of women in religious orders was 599,228. The department also oversees many social movements.
Before 2019, all members of the Vatican department were men, but both religious sisters and some bishops have long complained about the lack of women in decision-making positions in an office whose operations can directly affect their lives. In 2019, Francis appointed seven women members of the department. In 2022, he issued a new constitution that reformed the Roman Curia, making it possible for lay people, including women, to become prefects. In 2023, Sister Brambilla was elected secretary of the department. He succeeds the 77-year-old Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, who was named in 2011.
Sister Brambilla, 59, was born in Monza, near Milan. She was a professional nurse before becoming a Consular Missionary and holds a doctorate in psychology. He headed his religious institution from 2011 to 2023.
Critics accuse Francis of dragging his heels when it comes to appointing women to top decision-making positions in the church, but he has done more than his predecessors. Simply 10 years agoOnly two women held high positions in the Curia. Now there are about a dozen. According to Vatican news, from 2013 to 2023, the percentage of women working in the Vatican increased from 19.2 percent to 23.4 percent.
The first time, two years ago Francis allowed women to vote at a meeting of bishops trying to map out the future of the church. Although the role of women in the church was among the most discussed topics at that meeting, ending in October, the question of whether women could be ordained as deacons remained open.
Kate McElwee, Executive Director “It's definitely a positive change at the Vatican” Women's Ordination ConferenceBrambilla said of Sister's appointment. However, he too was confused about his role as pro-prefect. “It just proves that there are still some hurdles and hoops to jump through for women in the Vatican to get these positions,” she said.