Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office. He is appointing Sister Simona Brambilla, an Italian nun, to become prefect of the Vatican department responsible for all the church's religious orders.

Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to lead a major Vatican department, appointing an Italian sister to take charge of the office that oversees the world's Catholic religious orders.

Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing an Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders.

Brambilla's appointment is the latest move by Francis to show by example how women can take leadership roles within the Catholic hierarchy, albeit without allowing them to be ordained as priests.

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican department, marking a significant step in his initiative to elevate women's roles in the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to lead a major Vatican office, marking a significant step towards gender inclusivity within the Catholic Church. Brambilla will head the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life,