Pope Francis has made history by appointing Sister Simona Brambilla, a member of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, as the first woman to head a dicastery in the Roman Curia. This appointment underscores the Pope’s continued emphasis on elevating women to leadership roles within the Vatican, a hallmark of his pontificate.
The 59-year-old Sister Brambilla, who has extensive experience in religious and academic circles, will lead the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This appointment was announced on Monday, January 6, 2025. As the new prefect, she will work alongside Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who was named pro-prefect of the dicastery on the same day.
Sister Brambilla’s journey into religious life began after she trained as a nurse, a vocation she pursued before entering the Consolata Missionary Sisters. Her missionary work in Mozambique in the late 1990s further shaped her calling. Upon returning to Italy, Brambilla pursued an advanced degree in psychology, eventually teaching at the Pontifical Gregorian University in its Institute of Psychology. From 2011 until May 2023, she served as the superior general of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, a role that further honed her leadership capabilities.
The appointment of Brambilla aligns with Pope Francis’s broader vision of increasing the presence of women in leadership positions within the Church. Notably, she joins other women who have been appointed to significant roles within the Vatican, such as Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first woman to hold the second-ranking post in the government of Vatican City State.
According to the Vatican’s announcement, Pope Francis continues to make appointments that reflect his commitment to inclusivity. Brambilla’s appointment is especially significant, as she becomes one of the high-ranking women who now serve in various dicasteries and councils in the Roman Curia. “Pope Francis has named for the first time a woman, Sister Simona Brambilla, to head a dicastery of the Roman Curia, continuing to add to the number of women in leadership roles at the Vatican,” said the Vatican’s press office.
Sister Brambilla will collaborate closely with Cardinal Fernández Artime, a Spaniard who previously served as rector major of the Salesians. His role as pro-prefect is in line with Church law, which mandates that an ordained bishop must serve in certain governing positions within the Curia. The team will be supported by two undersecretaries: Father Aitor Jiménez Echave, CMF, and Sister Carmen Ros Nortes, NSC, who will assist in overseeing the department’s operations.
This move also places Sister Brambilla in a pivotal position of influence within the broader structure of the Church. She has been named a member of the 16th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, a significant body within the Vatican. She and María Lía Zervino, an Argentine laywoman, are the only women and non-bishops on the 17-member council.
Pope Francis’ consistent appointment of women to leadership roles highlights his belief in the need for inclusivity and the empowerment of women in the Church. Brambilla’s leadership in the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, alongside her fellow leaders, marks a continued advancement of this vision.
In addition to her remarkable appointment, Sister Brambilla’s contributions to religious life and the Vatican’s ongoing reform efforts stand as a testament to Pope Francis’s vision for the future of the Church.
