Pope Francis appoints three women to the Dicastery for Bishops

In a statement on Wednesday, 13 July, the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Francis has appointed three women to the Dicastery for Bishops. It is the first time that women have been appointed to the Dicastery responsible for identifying future bishops globally.

The female members are Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State; Sister Yvonne Reungoat, F.M.A, former Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; and Dr. Maria Lia Zervino, President of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations.

The appointment of Ms. Zervino also marks the first appointment ever of a laywoman to the Vatican Dicastery.

The other members also appointed by Pope Francis to the Dicastery for Bishops are: Cardinals Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., Jose F. Advincula, José Tolentino de Mendonça and Mario Grech; Cardinals-elect Arthur Roche, Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Jean-Marc Aveline and Oscar Cantoni; Monsignors Dražen Kutleša and Paul Desmond Tighe; and Fr Dom Donato Ogliari, O.S.B.