Pope Francis rules women can lead Vatican departments

In an unprecedented and historic move, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church introduced a landmark reform over the weekend that will effectively allow any baptized lay Catholic – including women – to hold leadership positions within the Vatican.

Although male clerics (usually cardinals or bishops) have led Vatican departments for centuries, after the 54-page constitution -- titled Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel) -- takes effect on June 5, non-ordained Catholics could soon replace members of the Curia in leadership roles at the Holy See, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The document’s preamble states the “pope, bishops and other ordained ministers are not the only evangelizers in the Church” and adds that lay men and women “should have roles of government and responsibility” within the Church’s central administration. The document’s principles section further states that “any member of the faithful can head a dicastery (Curia department) or organism” if appointed by the pope.

One of the most surprising aspects of the new constitution, however, is the fact that it makes no distinction between lay men and lay women – meaning that women could potentially be considered for important leadership roles within the Church for the first time in recent history.

According to a Reuters report, this means that the department for consecrated life, which is responsible for religious orders, could potentially be run by a nun in the future.

Although Pope Francis has previously considered women for key roles within the Vatican, this reform would standardize the practice and open the door for a new generation of lay leadership.

The Holy Father considered a woman to head the Vatican’s economic department in 2018, but she could not accept the position for personal reasons. He did, however, name a woman to the number two position in the governorship of Vatican City – making Sr. Raffaella Petrini the highest-ranking woman in the world’s smallest state.  

Similarly, he named Sr. Alessandra Smerilli as interim secretary of the Vatican’s development office and Nathalie Becquart as co-undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, which prepares major meetings of world bishops every few years.