The appointment on Thursday of Sister Raffaella Petrini, a 52-year-old Italian nun, is the latest in which the 84-year-old pope has placed a woman in a leadership role.

FILE— In this Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021 file photo, Pope Francis shakes hands with Sister Raffaella Petrini, secretary general of the Vatican's governorship, as he arrives for an audience with ...

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Thursday appointed Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini to the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State.

Pope Francis on Thursday appointed Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini to serve as the new secretary-general of the Vatican governorate of the Vatican, making her the first woman to hold the position.

Many saw her appointment, as well as that of Sister Raffaella Petrini as president of the Vatican City State, as a sign that the rigidly male Catholic hierarchy might finally allow women to assume ...

On Nov. 4, the Pope unexpectedly chose the Franciscan Sister Raffaella Petrini as secretary-general of the Vatican’s governorate. He also for the first time appointed a deputy secretary, ...

Another woman is taking over a top management job in the Vatican: Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian nun, was named Saturday as president of the Vatican City State, making her essentially the ...

Many saw her appointment, as well as that of Sister Raffaella Petrini as president of the Vatican City State, as a sign that the rigidly male Catholic hierarchy might finally allow women to assume ...

ROME (AP) — Another woman is taking over a top management job in the Vatican: Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian nun, was named Saturday as president of the Vatican City State, making her ...