Pope Leo’s First Cabinet Pick Was a Woman – Is the Church Changing?

At Mass today, Pope Leo saluted the women who first carried the gospel. His early cabinet picks show these aren’t just sweet words — he’s making women central power players in the Church's governance.

Pope Leo with Sister Rafaella Petrini — the Vatican Governor and arguably the highest ranking woman in the history of the Catholic Church (besides Mary).

Dear friends and fellow travelers,

Happy Friday and Feast of the Assumption!

Thanks to your incredible support, Letters from Leo has climbed as high as #6 on Substack’s list of best-selling news publications in just its first six weeks.

I can only continue to do this work with your generosity. If you find value in it, please become a paid subscriber or make a one-time donation today.

Subscriptions start at just $6.67/month, and include full access to:

• My ongoing series on Faith and the Democratic Party

• The multi-part deep dive into Pope Leo’s life and formation

The latest installments:

• Part IV explores Pope Leo’s 20-year friendship with Pope Francis.

• Part V profiles his closest cardinal confidant, Luis Antonio Tagle.

• Part VI examines how his thirty years in Peru will affect his pontificate.

Thank you again for your continued support!

Today, Pope Leo used the Feast of the Assumption to highlight the vital role of women in the faith.

In his homily, he celebrated Mary and Elizabeth as “Paschal women, apostles of the Resurrection,” urging everyone “to be converted by their witness.”

In other words, the pope reminded us that women were the first to see the risen Christ and carry his message, and their example should transform the Church’s life.

At the same time, Pope Leo has been making real changes in Rome.

In his first major curial appointment, he named Sister Tiziana Merletti as Secretary of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life, making her one of the most senior officials in his administration.

She will serve under Prefect Simona Brambilla — already the first woman ever to run that department — so two women now hold the top posts there.

But Leo didn’t stop there.

He also kept Sr. Brambilla in place and retained Sr. Raffaella Petrini as head of Vatican City’s governorate

Pope Leo meets with Italian Sister Simona Brambilla, prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, at the Vatican shortly after his May 8 election.

In other words, key Vatican offices now have women at the helm.

This “curia” — essentially the pope’s cabinet — is more diverse than ever, reflecting Francis’s reforms.

As Elise Allen put it succinctly, Pope Leo is intent on “securing women’s places and voices at the apex of the Church’s global governing bureaucracy.”

For those wondering why this matters: it means women’s perspectives will shape decisions at the highest level. Pope Leo’s first 100 days have sent a clear signal that he values the leadership of women.

It’s a bold and necessary shift, pointing toward a future worthy of a Church born from the flesh and fearless witness of two women.

Thank you for reading!

I can only continue to do this work with your generosity. If you find value in it, please become a paid subscriber or make a one-time donation today.