Vatican City: Pope Francis on Wednesday appointed three women to the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops: Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State; Sr. Yvonne Reungoat, F.M.A, former Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians; and, Dr. Maria Lia Zervino, President of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations.

For the first time in history, women including two religious sisters and a laywoman are included in the Dicastery to elect future bishops globally. The nomination of Dr. Zervino also marks the first appointment ever of a laywoman to the Vatican Dicastery.

Sister Raffaella Petrini, a Franciscan, has been secretary general of the Vatican’s governorate, the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State, since November 2021.

Sister Yvonne Reungoat, is superior general of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, a branch of the Salesians. In 2019, the French sister was one of the first seven women to be named members of the Vatican department for religious orders.

Maria Lia Zervino, a member of the Association of Consecrated Virgins “Servidoras,” is president of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations. She is also a consultant to the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

The members of the dicastery assist in choosing bishops for the dioceses. They analyze position papers, called ponenze, providing an opinion on candidates.

The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. Usually, the pope’s representative in a country, the apostolic nuncio, passes on recommendations and documentation to the Vatican.

The Dicastery of Bishops then discusses the appointment in a further process and takes a vote. On being presented with the recommendations, the pope makes the final decision.

The Congregation of Bishops, a department of the Roman Curia, recently changed its name to the Dicastery for Bishops, in line with the new constitution that underpins the reform of the Vatican by Pope Francis.

Here is the full list of the Pope's appointments as Dicastery members:

- Cardinal Anders Arborelius, OCD, Bishop of Stockholm (Sweden)

- Cardinal Jose F. Advincula, Archbishop of Manila (Philippines)

- Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church

- Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops

- Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

- Cardinal-elect Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy

- Cardinal-elect Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille (France)

- Cardinal-elect Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of Como (Italy)

- Archbishop Dražen Kutleša, Archbishop of Split-Makarska (Croatia)

- Bishop Paul Desmond Tighe, Secretary of the former Pontifical Council for Culture

- Father Dom Donato Ogliari , OSB, Abbot of the Abbey of San Paolo fuori le Mura and Apostolic Administrator of the Territorial Abbey of Montecassino (Italy)

- Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State

- Sister Yvonne Reungoat, FMA, former Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians

- Doctor Maria Lia Zervino, President of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations

-VN/CNA