Rome (Italy). On 24 June 2025, the Holy Father appointed Mother Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Mother Chiara Cazzuola is the 10th Successor of Mary Domenica Mazzarello. Born in Campiglia Marittima – Livorno (Italy) in 1955, she made her religious profession at the FMA Institute in Castelgandolfo (Rome) on 5 August 1975. Graduated in Literary Subjects, she is a Teacher for several years and, subsequently, Principal in the Secondary School of First and Second Degree. Subsequently, she is Community Animator and then Provincial Councilor. In 2001, with the unification of the three Provinces of Emilia, Liguria, and Tuscany, she is appointed Provincial Councilor for Formation and gave her contribution by favoring ways of communion, spirituality in a style of simplicity, respect for people, and depth. In 2007, she was appointed Provincial of the Emiliana-Ligure-Toscana Our Lady of the Cenacle Province (ILS), based in La Spezia. General Chapter XXII of 2008, elects her Visiting Councilor. In the six-year term of 2008-2014, she visits some Provinces of America and Europe. In 2014, Mother Yvonne Reungoat appoints her as Regulator of the XXIII General Chapter and, in the same Chapter, she is elected Vicar General. In February 2019, Mother appoints her as Regulator of the XXIV General Chapter and on 5 October 2021, she is elected Mother General in this Chapter.
Together with her, the Holy Father has appointed the Most Eminent Cardinals: Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B., Archbishop of Rabat (Morocco); Giorgio Marengo, I.M.C., Apostolic Prefect of Ulabaanatar (Mongolia); Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., Patriarch of Latin Jerusalem (Israel); JJaime Spengler, O.F.M., Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil);
the Excellencies, Bishops: Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania); Jerzy Maculewicz, O.F.M. Conv., Apostolic Administrator of Uzbekistan; Julio César Salcedo Aquino, M.J., Bishop of Tlaxcala (Mexico); Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, C.M.M., Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa); Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, M.C.C.J., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); the Most Reverend Fathers Stanley Lubungo, Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), and Miguel Márquez Calle, Preposito General of the Discalced Carmelites; Reverend Father Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome (Italy); Reverend Brother Armin Altamirano Luistro, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools;
the Reverend Mothers: Françoise Petit, Superior General of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul; Maria Goretti Lee, Superior General of the Sisters Hospitallers of St. Paul; Idilia Maria Moreira Gonçalves Carneiro, Superior General of the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Miss Luisa Muston, General President of the Secular Missionary Institute of the Sick “Christ Hope“.
The Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life promotes, animates, and regulates the practice of the evangelical counsels in the manner in which they are lived out in approved forms of consecrated life, as well as with regard to the life and activity of the Societies of Apostolic Life throughout the Latin Church. It is the duty of the Dicastery to approve the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, to erect them, and to grant a license for the validity of the erection by the Bishop of an Institute of Consecrated Life or Society of Apostolic Life under diocesan law. The Dicastery strives to ensure that the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life progress in following Christ as proposed by the Gospel, according to the charism born from the spirit of the founder and the healthy traditions faithfully pursue their own goals and contribute effectively to the building up of the Church and her mission in the world.
In welcoming the news, Mother Chiara thanks the Holy Father; the Prefect, Sister Simona Brambilla; and the Pro-Prefetto, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, for this appointment, “I hope to be up to the mission that the Church asks of me. I will do it with all my heart on behalf of the Institute, and I thank you for the trust received.”
Thank you, Mother Chiara, for your availability. The entire Institute rejoices with you and affectionately wishes you a good journey, assuring our prayer and commitment of fidelity to the Church and the Pope, as desired by Don Bosco, whose name day is celebrated today, and Mother Mazzarello, on the 74th anniversary of her Canonization (24 June 1951). On this 24th of the month, may Mary Help of Christians guide and accompany you with tenderness in this new mission.
congratulation dear Mother general for the new resonsibilty given to you. we rejoice with you and assure of our prayers;
lovingly in Donbosco
sr. geetha mathew
bangalore province
Merci Mère Chiara, nous vous portons dans la prière pour votre nouvelle mission dans l’Eglise.
Que Marie Auxiliatrice vous accompagne toujours, Félicitations ! vos soeurs de la Cté Eusebia Lubumbashi RDCongo
Congratulations, best wishes and prayers dearest Mother on your new appointment in the church. We pray that through your instrumentality, all the consecrated persons all over the world may be inspired to live their consecrated life with greater zeal and enthusiasm keeping alive the spirit and charism of their founders in todays context.
Carissima Madre,
Le sorelle dall’Ispettoria Messicana “Nostra Signora di Guadalupe”, México Sur, ci congratuliamo con te per questa nomina!
Preghiamo la Madonna di Guadalupe ti sia vicina ed iuti nella nuova missione che la Chiesa ti affida.
Un abrazo mexicano.
Sor Ma. Guadalupe Villicaña Castillo
Querida Madre Chiara, quanta alegria em constatar que nosso carisma assume maior e maior visibilidade com sua presença nesta nova missão. Deus é bom! Conte com nossas humilides preces. Maria, sempre a caminhar entre nós.
Felicidades Hermana Chiara. Con la Gracia del Señor todo irá bien en el dicasterio y cuán útiles somos las mujeres en organización, oración y Vida Comunitaria
Madre Chiara, felicidades por su sì al Señor y a la Iglesia…nuestra oraciòn por Usted en esta nueva mision. Hijas del Divino Salvador.
Augurissimi Madre per questo nuovo impegno. Sono certa che Maria Ausiliatrice sarà per Lei guida e madre. Un abbraccio
Annalisa
Carissima Madre Chiara insieme alle ExA dall’istituto S. Giovanni Bosco di Catania siamo felici per la sua nomina da parte del Santo Padre Leone XIV certi che Maria Ausiliatrice l’accompagnerà ed ispirerà nel nuovo incarico
Carissima Madre Chiara,
anche noi da Nizza ci congratuliamo con te per questa nomina!
Madre Mazzarello ne sarà orgogliosa! Lei ti benedice e ti sostiene in questa nuova missione ecclesiale. un grande abbraccio sr. Piera Cavaglià e le due comunità sorelle