Phyllis Zagano
January 31, 2025
Noting that women are better managers than men, Pope Francis announced he is adding another woman to his administrative staff, naming Franciscan Sr. Raffaella Petrini to succeed retiring Spanish Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga as president of the Governatorate of Vatican City State.
She will be the second woman to head a curial office, joining Consolata Missionary Sr. Simona Brambilla, the new prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Both are Italian-born, Rome-educated nuns who have served as the secretary or second in command of their respective Curia offices.
While the pope is acting on his desire to include women in administrative managerial positions in the church, he seems to have turned a deaf ear to calls for women in ministry, despite approving continued discussion about women deacons.