Pope Francis appoints Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office, making her the prefect of the department responsible for all Catholic Church religious orders. This historic appointment is part of Francis' efforts to give women more leadership roles in the church. Brambilla's new role as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is a significant step towards gender equality in the Vatican. The appointment was made possible by Francis' 2022 reform allowing laypeople, including women, to lead dicasteries and become prefects. This move reflects the increasing presence of women in leadership positions within the Catholic Church under Francis' papacy.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-women-cf2602d26d3ec84a7993f872916b1b89