Pope Francis, in a historic move, has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican department, marking a significant milestone in the Catholic Church’s ongoing efforts to elevate women into leadership roles.

Sister Brambilla, a member of the Consolata Missionaries, has been named prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This department, which oversees religious orders across the globe, including prominent groups such as the Jesuits, Franciscans, and Mercy nuns, is responsible for more than 600,000 Catholic nuns and 129,000 priests worldwide.

At 59 years old, Brambilla’s appointment is part of Pope Francis’ broader initiative to bring more women into leadership within the Church. It follows reforms introduced in 2022 that allowed laypeople, including women, to head Vatican dicasteries.

“This should have happened long ago, but thank God,” remarked Thomas Groome, a professor of theology at Boston College, emphasizing the symbolic importance of Brambilla’s appointment. Despite this progress, Brambilla will share the role with Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, who has been named “pro-prefect.” This dual leadership structure is due to theological restrictions that reserve certain sacramental functions for ordained men.

While many have celebrated the appointment, some, like Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of the religion and philosophy department at Manhattan University, expressed concerns about the inclusion of a male co-leader. “One day, I pray, the Church will see women for the capable leaders they already are,” she said.

Brambilla’s promotion follows a distinguished career, including her time as superior of her order from 2011 to 2023 and her recent position as secretary of the religious orders department. She has also worked as a nurse and missionary in Mozambique.

Her appointment comes at a time when the number of nuns worldwide has been steadily declining, from 750,000 in 2010 to 600,000 last year. Brambilla will face the challenge of addressing this decline while continuing the Church’s push for women’s involvement in leadership.

Pope Francis has been committed to promoting women’s leadership within the Vatican, with the percentage of women in Vatican leadership roles rising from 19.3% in 2013 to 23.4% today. Other notable women appointed to significant positions include Sister Raffaella Petrini, the first female secretary general of the Vatican City State, and Barbara Jatta, the laywoman overseeing the Vatican Museums.

While Brambilla’s appointment is celebrated as a step forward, the ongoing debate about the ordination of women within the Church remains unresolved. Nonetheless, her leadership position is seen as a key step toward acknowledging the vital role women play in the Church’s present and future.