On March 27, Sister Simona Brambilla will turn 60, bringing with her a curriculum that sees her at the center of a significant turning point for the Catholic Church. Formerly superior general of the Consolata Missionaries, the nun was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life by Pope Francis, thus becoming the first woman to hold this role. Her appointment represents a further step in the integration of women into top roles in the Roman Curia, a path that began with the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of 2022.
Originally from Lombardy, Sister Brambilla began her religious journey with a professional nursing diploma, subsequently entering the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Consolata. After a period of intense missionary activity in Mozambique, she was elected superior general of the Institute, a role she held from 2011 to 2023. During these years, her leadership and vision left an indelible mark, earning the Pope’s trust , which in 2019 appointed her a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Subsequently, on 7 October 2023, she became secretary of the Dicastery, until her recent appointment as prefect.
Sister Brambilla’s election is part of a context of growing openness towards women in Vatican government roles. From 2013 to 2023, under Bergoglio’s pontificate, the female presence in the Holy See went from 19.2% to 23.4%. Among the prominent figures nominated are Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums since 2016, and Sister Raffaella Petrini, general secretary of the Governorate since 2022. Other illustrious names include Emilce Cuda, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Nathalie Becquart , undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops. Even in operational positions, such as the Vatican Press Office, the female presence has been consolidated, thanks to figures such as Cristiane Murray, deputy director of the Holy See Press Office. With the Praedicate EvangeliumFrancis made it possible for lay people, including women, to head a dicastery, a position traditionally reserved for cardinals and archbishops. This reform is not just a symbolic act, but a concrete call to recognize the important contribution of women in ecclesial life. Sister Simona Brambilla, with her missionary experience and her leadership charisma, embodies this vision of renewal and inclusion. At his side, as Pro-prefect of the Dicastery, Ángel Fernández Artime, 65, was appointed cardinal on 30 September. Together, they will lead a central dicastery for consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, promoting an increasingly universal and inclusive Church.
