Pope promotes Italian nun to top migrant role in his first major appointment of a woman to Holy See - The Korea Times

Pope Leo XIV carries a cross as he arrives in procession to preside over the Mass for the Holy See Jubilee, at the Vatican, June 9, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap

ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday made his first major appointment of a woman to the Holy See hierarchy, promoting Italian Sister Alessandra Smerilli to head the Vatican office responsible for migrants, the environment and development.

Smerilli, an economist, is currently the No. 2 in the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. As prefect, she replaces the retiring Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who turns 80 soon.

With the appointment of Smerilli, Leo appears to be following the lead of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who made a point of promoting women to top-level management positions within the Holy See as part of his response to calls by women for greater decision-making roles in the church.

Earlier this month, Leo named a Mexican-American woman, Maria Montserrat Alvarado, to head the Vatican's communications operations.