Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Salesian nun Sister Alessandra Smerilli Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Currently serving as secretary of the dicastery, she will assume the position on September 1, 2026, becoming the head of one of the Holy See’s most important dicasteries.
He will thus succeed Cardinal Michael Czerny, who has served as prefect of the dicastery since April 2022 and on an interim basis since January 1 of that same year.
Within the same department, Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., who until now served as undersecretary, has been appointed pro-prefect with special responsibility for the «Laudato si’» Center for Advanced Studies, while Monsignor Jozef Barlaš, also an undersecretary, will be the new secretary of the dicastery. Both will assume their duties on September 1.
Third Woman to Serve as Prefect in the Roman Curia
This is the second time Pope Leo XIV has appointed a woman to a high-level position, following the appointment of María Montserrat Alvarado as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. She is also the third female Prefect in the Curia, following Pope Francis’s appointment of Sister Simona Brambilla as Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, effective January 6, 2025.
Other Appointments
The Pontiff also appointed Monsignor Marco Mellino as secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, a position he will assume after having served as deputy secretary of the same body.
In the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Leo XIV appointed Monsignor Lucio Adrián Ruiz—who until now served as secretary of the Dicastery for Communication—as the new secretary. He also appointed Dr. Massimo Ralli, an official of the same dicastery, as undersecretary. Both will assume their new positions on September 1.
In addition, the Pope renewed the membership of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization by appointing new members and consultants from all five continents. Among the new members are Cardinals Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Jean-Marc Aveline, and Frank Leo, as well as numerous archbishops, bishops, and leaders of missionary institutions from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Several consultants specializing in the field of mission and evangelization were also appointed.
On the diplomatic front, Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Monsignor Charles Daniel Balvo as apostolic nuncio to Australia, which he had submitted upon reaching the age limit set for diplomatic service with the Holy See.
Finally, the Holy Father appointed Monsignor Charles Phillip Richard Moth, Metropolitan Archbishop of Westminster, as apostolic administrator in full and at the discretion of the Holy See of the Diocese of Northampton, in England.
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