Pope Francis Appoints First Woman to Lead Major Vatican Department

Pope Francis, on Monday, appointed the first woman to lead one of the major departments in the Vatican, an Italian nun who will take charge of the office overseeing Catholic religious guidelines worldwide.

Sister Simona Brambilla (59 years old) will head the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in the Vatican. She will replace Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian who has held the position since 2011, according to Reuters.

Pope Francis has elevated women to leadership roles in the Vatican during his papacy, which has lasted for 11 years. He has appointed several women to second-in-command positions across various departments.

Brambilla has been appointed as the “Dean” of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the internationally recognized sovereign body that oversees the global Catholic Church.