The history of the Catholic Church, with more than two thousand years of tradition, had a radical turn in the last week: Simona Brambilla, by decision of Pope Francis, became prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. It is the first time that a woman leads a Vatican "ministry". At 59 years of age, this Italian nun is the protagonist of a radical change in the structure and command of the Vatican and the Catholic Church; although some consider that there is still a long way to go for women to have more prominence in the construction of one of the churches with the largest number of faithful in the world.

Born in Monza, in northern Italy, Brambilla began her professional career as a nurse, where she began to show an interest in caring for others. Her religious vocation led her to join the Institute of the Consolata Missionary Sisters, where she played a key role as general superior from 2011 until May 2023.

During his time as leader of this congregation, Brambilla combined his mission experience with an academic career: he earned a doctorate in psychology. In addition, her missionary career includes extensive experience in Africa, where she worked closely with marginalized communities, cementing her reputation as a moderate and conciliatory leader.

What is Brambilla's position? The Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is a central organ in the Roman Curia. It oversees religious orders and societies of apostolic life, which include hundreds of thousands of religious men and women around the world. In his new role, Brambilla will be responsible for guiding and promoting consecrated life, that is, helping to keep religious vocations coming to the Church.

An unfinished revolution

The appointment of Simona Brambilla as prefect also generates a debate on the role of women in the Church. Although her appointment is historic, it has also been a source of criticism due to the simultaneous appointment of Spaniard Angel Fernandez Artime as "pro-prefect" of the same dicastery. Some experts fear that this may limit Sister Brambilla's effective power, relegating her to a representative role rather than one of full leadership. However, this situation also highlights the tension between the Church's patriarchal tradition and moves toward greater female participation.

Pope Francis has sought to expand the space for women in the Church since the beginning of his pontificate in 2013. During his rule, the percentage of women in office in the Holy See and Vatican administration has grown from 19.2% to 23.4%. Despite this progress, women continue to face significant structural barriers, such as the impossibility of being ordained priests, an issue that remains a matter of contention within the Church.

Simona Brambilla's appointment follows other notable decisions by Francis, such as the appointment of Barbara Jatta as director of the Vatican Museums and Sister Raffaella Petrini as secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State. However, the last Synod of 2024 revealed that major obstacles still persist in achieving greater recognition and visibility for women within the Church.

Simona Brambilla is not only a pioneer in her role within the Vatican, but also an example of transformational leadership that combines experience, training and a renewed vision. Her ability to dialogue and conciliate, along with her missionary commitment, could be key to addressing the challenges affecting consecrated life for a Church that has been losing followers in recent decades.

While his appointment reflects significant progress, it also makes it clear that the road to true gender equality in the Church is long and complex. The figure of Simona Brambilla symbolizes both the achievements and the challenges facing the Catholic Church as it strives to fully integrate women at all levels of its structure.

Whit information from AFP