<p>Vatican City: Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to lead a major Vatican department, appointing an Italian sister to take charge of the office that oversees the world's Catholic religious orders.</p><p>Sister Simona Brambilla, 59, will lead the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. </p>.On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world.<p>She replaces Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian prelate who had led the office since 2011.</p><p>Francis has elevated women to leadership roles at the Vatican throughout his 11-year papacy, naming a range of women to second-in-command positions at various offices.</p><p>But he had not yet appointed a woman to lead one of the offices of the Holy See, the internationally recognised sovereign entity that oversees the global Catholic Church.</p><p>Brambilla was named as "prefect" of the Vatican office. Francis also named Spanish Cardinal Angel Fernández Artime as "pro-prefect" of the department.</p><p>The Vatican press office said Brambilla would be leading the department, but did not immediately offer details on how the two officials would split duties.</p><p>Among other appointments, Francis has previously named women to number two positions in the Vatican's development office, its family life office, and its press office.</p><p>He also appointed Barbara Jatta as the first woman to lead the Vatican Museums in 2016</p>
<p>Vatican City: Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to lead a major Vatican department, appointing an Italian sister to take charge of the office that oversees the world's Catholic religious orders.</p><p>Sister Simona Brambilla, 59, will lead the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. </p>.On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world.<p>She replaces Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian prelate who had led the office since 2011.</p><p>Francis has elevated women to leadership roles at the Vatican throughout his 11-year papacy, naming a range of women to second-in-command positions at various offices.</p><p>But he had not yet appointed a woman to lead one of the offices of the Holy See, the internationally recognised sovereign entity that oversees the global Catholic Church.</p><p>Brambilla was named as "prefect" of the Vatican office. Francis also named Spanish Cardinal Angel Fernández Artime as "pro-prefect" of the department.</p><p>The Vatican press office said Brambilla would be leading the department, but did not immediately offer details on how the two officials would split duties.</p><p>Among other appointments, Francis has previously named women to number two positions in the Vatican's development office, its family life office, and its press office.</p><p>He also appointed Barbara Jatta as the first woman to lead the Vatican Museums in 2016</p>