Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli, an Italian religious sister and economist, as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, effective September 1, 2026. She becomes the third woman to lead a Vatican dicastery. Aleteia reported the appointment following today’s announcement from the Holy See Press Office.
What happened
Sister Smerilli has served as secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development since her appointment by the late Pope Francis in 2021. She succeeds Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, whose term ends as he approaches retirement age.
The dicastery oversees the Church’s work on migration, development, peace and justice, and care for creation. Sister Smerilli brings expertise in economics and has advised the Vatican on financial ethics and sustainable development issues.
She is the third woman appointed to lead a Vatican department, following Sister Raffaella Petrini as secretary general of the governorate of Vatican City State and Barbara Jatta as director of the Vatican Museums. For the full details of the appointment, see Aleteia’s report.
Why this matters
The appointment continues a gradual shift toward greater participation of women in Vatican governance roles. While women have long served in advisory and administrative positions, prefect-level appointments remain rare. Sister Smerilli’s economic background positions her well to guide the dicastery’s work on global poverty, labor justice, and environmental stewardship, areas where Catholic social teaching intersects with complex policy questions.
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development was established by Pope Francis in 2016, consolidating four previous pontifical councils. Its mandate reflects the holistic vision of human flourishing outlined in papal encyclicals from Rerum Novarum to Laudato Si’. Sister Smerilli’s appointment signals continuity in this work under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
For Catholic readers
The dicastery’s work touches every Catholic who seeks to live out the Church’s social doctrine. Review the Vatican’s resources on integral human development at vatican.va to understand how Catholic social teaching addresses contemporary challenges from migration to economic inequality.
Sources:
1. Aleteia — original report
