He is appointing Sister Simona Brambilla, an Italian nun, to become prefect of the Vatican department responsible for all the church's religious orders.

Pope Francis on Monday named Sister Simona Brambilla the first female prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Sister Simona Brambilla, 60, of Italy will be prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The appointment marks a major step in Pope Francis’ aim to give women more leadership roles in governing the church.

A woman is appointed Vatican prefect by Pope Francis for the first time. He has just appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the new Vatican prefect for consecrated life and societies of apostolic life,

VATICAN— Pope Francis has named for the first time a woman, Sister Simona Brambilla, to head a dicastery of the Roman Curia, continuing to add to the number of women in leadership roles at the Vatican,