Pope Francis on Thursday
named the first woman head of a Vatican dicastery or
administrative and religious department.
The pope appointed a nun, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, as
the interim Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral
Human Development.
She was also appointed as a delegate of the Vatican Covid-19
Commission, Vatican News reported.
Sister Smerilli was named "to replace Msgr. Bruno Marie Duffé
and Fr. Augusto Zampini, respectively Secretary and Assistant
Secretary of the same Dicastery, both of whom have returned to
their dioceses."
The Italian religious sister has served as an Undersecretary at
the Dicastery since March 2021.
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis has
"ordered that management team of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission
be composed" of Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of
the Dicastery, Sister Smerilli, and Father Fabio Baggio,
Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section.
Born in the Italian town of Vasto (Chieti) in 1974, Sister
Smerilli has been the Undersecretary of the Dicastery since
March 2021, as well as coordinator of the Economic Taskforce of
the Vatican Commission Covid-19.
As Secretary she takes the place of Msgr. Bruno-Marie Duffé, who
left the Dicastery in July, and as delegate of the Task Force
she replaces Father Augusto Zampini. The latter is also leaving
the Dicastery and returning to serve in his home diocese in
Argentina.
"I am grateful to the Holy Father," said Sr. Smerilli, "for the
challenging task he has called me to take on, and I pray the
Lord will help me honor this call in a spirit of obedience to
the Church, with the humility, passion, creativity and ability
to listen that it requires. My desire and commitment are to be
able to serve the mission of the Church to the best of my
ability, for as long as the Pope sees fit."
After thanking her superiors, Sr. Smerilli said she was certain
she could "count on the spirit of communion and collaboration of
the entire Dicastery, as well as the many international partners
who collaborate with the Covid Commission, for the integral
promotion of the person and the care of creation by promoting
and developing those principles of the Church's social doctrine
to which Pope Francis constantly calls us for the construction
of a better world."
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