Raffaella Petrini, FSE (born 15 January 1969) is an Italian Catholic religious sister who has served as Secretary General of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State since 2021. She is the first woman to hold the position and one of the highest-ranking officials at the Vatican. She is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.

The Reverend Sister
Raffaella Petrini
FSE
Personal
Born (1969-01-15) January 15, 1969 (age 55)
Rome, Italy
ReligionCatholic
NationalityItalian
EducationLibera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli
Known forDoctor from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Professor at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Organization
InstituteFranciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE)
Senior posting
Previous postOfficial of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Present postSecretary General of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State#Governorate of Vatican City State

Biography

edit

She was born in Rome on 15 January 1969[1] and graduated with a degree in Political Science from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli of Rome. She received a doctorate from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where she was later appointed professor of Welfare Economics and Sociology of Economic Processes.[2][3] She also studied organizational behavior at the University of Hartford (Connecticut), receiving a masters degree in 2001.[4]

From 2005 to 2021 she has worked on the staff of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.[2]

On 4 November 2021, Pope Francis appointed her to be the first woman to hold the office of Secretary General of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.[5] He noted that since she held the number two position in the governorship of Vatican City, Petrini had become the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state.[6]

On 13 July 2022, Pope Francis appointed women as members of the Dicastery for Bishops for the first time, including Petrini, Yvonne Reungoat, and María Lía Zervino.[7][8]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Sr Raffaella Petrini appointed Secretary General of Vatican Governorate". Vatican News. 4 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Vaticano, per la prima volta una suora nominata segretario del Governatorato". la Repubblica. 4 November 2021.
  3. ^ Verdú, Daniel (4 November 2021). "El Papa nombra a una mujer como 'número dos' del Gobierno del Vaticano". El País.
  4. ^ Coppen, Luke (July 13, 2022). "Who are the women appointed to the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops?". The Pillar. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 04.11.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Exclusive: Pope to give women a say in appointment of bishops". Reuters. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  7. ^ White, Christopher (13 July 2022). "Pope Francis names three women to Vatican office that recommends new bishops". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 13.07.2022". Holy See Press Office (Press release). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.