Vatican, 04 November, 2021 / 8:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis on Thursday appointed Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini to the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State.
Petrini is the first woman and non-clergy member to be secretary general of the Vatican’s governorate.
The appointment makes her one of the highest-ranking women at the Vatican, alongside Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, “ad interim” secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Sr. Natalie Becquart, an under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
Petrini replaces Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, who was promoted to president, effective Oct. 1.
The governorate is the office of executive power of the state of Vatican City. It is led by a president, secretary general, and vice secretary general.