Rome (dpa) – Pope Francis named Sister Alessandra Smerilli as interim Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and as a delegate of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission, the Holy See said on Thursday.
This is the first time a woman has been appointed as secretary of a dicastery, the news portal Vatican News wrote.
She replaces Monsignor Bruno Marie Duffe and Father Augusto Zampini, who have returned to their dioceses.
Smerilli has served as undersecretary at the dicastery since March 2021.
«I am grateful to the Holy Father for the challenging task he has called me to take on, and I pray the Lord will help me honour this call in a spirit of obedience to the Church, with the humility, passion, creativity and ability to listen that it requires,» Smerilli was quoted as saying by the Vatican News.
