Rome (Italy). On 6 January 2025, on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the Holy Father appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, MC, already Superior General in Italy of the Missionaries of the Consolata, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, of which she was Secretary since 7 October 2023.
Sister Simona was the second woman to hold the position of Secretary in the Roman Curia after the appointment, in 2021, of Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, to the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development and now holds the primacy of first female Prefect in the Vatican.
On the same day, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB, former Rector Major of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.
The Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, on behalf of all the FMA, congratulates the Cardinal:
“Your Eminence, or rather Fr. Ángel, we have learned this morning of your appointment as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. We want to send you our best wishes for a good mission and thank you for your availability. We will always be in communion with affection and prayer. Congratulations and good journey with Mary Help of Christians, Mother and Teacher.”
