Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV has changed a Vatican law to now allow women and non-cardinals to lead the Vatican City administration after Pope Francis first appointed a woman for the position in November.
Francis appointed Italian Sister Raffaella Petrini, 52, for the position of secretary-general of the Vatican governorate of the Vatican, but because of a 2023 law that only allowed cardinals to have the position, there have been legal issues with her appointment. Leo issued a motu proprio, a Vatican official document, that changed the law's language on Friday.
In her position, Petrini oversees administrative operations such as the Vatican museums, post office, budgets, health care and police. She is the first woman in the position and the highest-ranking woman in the Vatican.
Petrini wasn't invited to give the economic status report of the city-state to the meetings of cardinals before the May conclave began. Only cardinals are allowed in those meetings, but the report would normally be given by the president of the Vatican administration.
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