Raffaella Petrini
The Reverend Sister Raffaella Petrini | |
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| Personal life | |
| Born | 15 January 1969 Rome, Italy |
| Education | |
| Known for | Professor at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Institute | Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE) |
| Senior posting | |
| Present post | President of the Governorate of Vatican City State |
| Predecessor | Fernando Vérgez Alzaga |
| Previous post |
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Raffaella Petrini FSE (born 15 January 1969) is an Italian Catholic religious sister who is President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State since 1 March 2025. She was Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State from 2021 to 2025 and is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. She is the first woman to hold the position and one of the highest-ranking officials at the Vatican.
Biography
Rafaella Petrini was born in Rome on 15 January 1969[1] and graduated with a degree in political science from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) in Rome.[2][3] She then studied at the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford (Connecticut), receiving a masters degree in organizational behavior in 2001.[4][5][6] She entered the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 2008, earning a licentiate 2011 and a doctorate in 2014.[5] She was later appointed professor there and taught courses in welfare economics and the sociology of economic processes.[2][3]
From 2005 to 2021 she worked on the staff of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.[2]
On 4 November 2021, Pope Francis appointed her secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State,[7] the first woman to hold that position.[2] He later noted that she was the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state.[8]
On 13 July 2022, Pope Francis appointed women as members of the Dicastery for Bishops for the first time, including Petrini, Yvonne Reungoat, and María Lía Zervino.[9][10]
In January 2025 Pope Francis announced that he planned to name Petrini president of the Governorate of Vatican City State,[11] and he did so on 15 February with an effective date of 1 March.[12] She is the first woman to hold this position.[13]
References
- ^ "Sr Raffaella Petrini appointed Secretary General of Vatican Governorate". Vatican News. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d Rodari, Paolo (4 November 2021). "Vaticano, per la prima volta una suora nominata segretario del Governatorato". la Repubblica. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ a b Verdú, Daniel (4 November 2021). "El Papa nombra a una mujer como 'número dos' del Gobierno del Vaticano". El País. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
- ^ "UHart Graduate Appointed First Female Secretary-General of Vatican City State". University of Hartford. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Alumni: Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E." Angelicum. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ Coppen, Luke (13 July 2022). "Who are the women appointed to the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops?". The Pillar. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 04.11.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Exclusive: Pope to give women a say in appointment of bishops". Reuters. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ White, Christopher (13 July 2022). "Pope Francis names three women to Vatican office that recommends new bishops". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 13.07.2022". Holy See Press Office (Press release). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Pope Francis: A woman will head the Vatican Governatorate". Vatican News. 19 January 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- ^ "Rinunce e nomine, 15.02.2025" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ O'Connell, Girard (15 February 2025). "Pope Francis appoints an Italian nun as the first woman governor of Vatican City". America. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
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