59-year-old Sister Simona Brambilla, former superior general of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Consolation. Last December pope appointed her a member of the 16th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod. At the same time, from October 2023, she served as secretary Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Lifeof which she today became prefect (she was responsible for religious life), so she was number two of this institution of the Roman Curia. As of Monday, she holds the highest-ranking position among women in… Vatican.
In the years 2002-06 she was professor of psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University w Rome.
The deputy head is a Spanish cardinal
A 64-year-old Spanish priest and former general of the Jesuit order was appointed deputy head of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, card. Angel Fernandez Artimewho received the cardinal's hat during last year's consistory.
So far, Pope Francis has also appointed women to managerial positions in two institutions of the Vatican City State: since 2017, the director of the Vatican Museums is the Italian museologist and art historian Barbara Jatta. And from 2021, the position of secretary general of the Governorate of the Vatican City State is held by Franciscan sister Rafaella Petrini.