Pope Francis appointed the first woman to lead one of the main departments in the Vatican on Monday, an Italian nun who will take responsibility for the office overseeing global Catholic religious guidance.
Simona Brambilla, 59, will head the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in the Vatican, according to Reuters. She will replace Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian who has held the position since 2011.
During his 11-year papacy, Pope Francis has elevated women to leadership roles in the Vatican, appointing a number of women to second-tier positions in various departments.
Brambilla was appointed as "Prefect" of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the internationally recognized sovereign entity overseeing the global Catholic Church.
Vatican media highlighted the historic nature of Brambilla's appointment with the headline "Sister Simona Brambilla is the First Female President in the Vatican."