Pope Francis today appointed the first woman to head a major office in Vatican, the Italian nun Simona Brambilla, as prefect of the department responsible for all religious orders of the Catholic Church.
Brambilla, 59, is a member of the Consolata Missionary religious order and has served in the department for religious orders since last year, AP reported. She took over the position from the retired Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, 77.
The appointment marks a significant step in Pope Francis’ efforts to give women more leadership roles in the governance of the church, the American agency noted.
Never before has a woman been appointed as the prefect of a dicastery or congregation of the Roman Curia, the central governing body of the Catholic Church, AP added.
Pope Francis also today appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy from San Diego as Archbishop of Washington. McElroy, 70, replaces Cardinal Wilton Gregory, 77.
CREATED by:
“KORÇA BOOM”
