Pope Appoints Catholic Church's First 'Female Minister'... Controversy Over Simultaneous Male Acting Appointment

Pope Francis has appointed the first female minister in the history of the Holy See, but at the same time, he also appointed a male acting minister in the same department, sparking controversy.

Sister Brambilla, the first female minister in the history of the Vatican. Photo by ANSA, Italy

On the 6th (local time), the Pope appointed Sister Simona Brambilla (59), an Italian, as the Minister of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (Congregation for Institutes), marking an important step toward improving the status of women within the Catholic Church. The Congregation for Institutes is responsible for matters concerning religious orders, secular institutes, and societies of apostolic life worldwide.

This appointment drew attention as the first female minister in the history of the Holy See, but the Pope simultaneously appointed Cardinal ?ngel Fern?ndez Artime from Spain as the acting minister of the same department, leading to criticism that the symbolic significance of the appointment was diminished.

It is not yet known how the two will divide responsibilities and roles. The New York Times (NYT) reported that within and outside the Catholic community, there is a view that Sister Brambilla’s actual authority may be reduced due to the 'two ministers under one roof' system.

Church historian and journalist Luchetta Scarafia said, "The appointment of a female minister is great news, but seeing someone placed beside her feels like appointing a manager who can control her," adding, "This appointment is merely for show."

There was also controversy over the fact that this conflicts with the existing organizational structure of the Holy See. According to the new papal constitution "Praedicate Evangelium" promulgated by the Pope in March 2022, the position of acting minister exists only in the Dicastery for Evangelization. This is because the Dicastery for Evangelization has a special structure where the Pope himself directly holds the ministerial office and oversees the department, unlike other departments of the Holy See.

The Catholic online media outlet The Pillar noted, "The Pope may have judged that an acting minister who is a bishop was necessary for practical reasons," but also pointed out, "Regardless of the Pope’s intentions, this simultaneous appointment does not align with the existing Holy See organizational structure and could cause institutional confusion."

Since his accession in 2013, Pope Francis has emphasized that women should hold more important positions and roles throughout the Catholic Church, and he has indeed appointed women to senior positions in the Holy See’s bureaucratic organization and key departments. In March 2022, he also announced a new church constitution that includes provisions allowing any baptized Catholic layperson, including women, to lead the administrative organization of the Holy See.