Pope tweaks a law allowing a woman to head the Vatican City State, months after a nun was appointed

The Vatican has tweaked a law that allows a woman to head its administration, months after the appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini as president of the city state.

Pope Leo XIV made the change on Friday to address issues stemming from Petrini's appointment in February. When Francis named Petrini, it marked a significant shift for the Catholic Church, which has historically barred women from priestly roles and other high-ranking positions.

However, the law that governed the Vatican City State administration needed an update to accommodate the new president. A technical glitch arose when Petrini was not invited to deliver her annual economic report at the pre-conclave meetings of cardinals in spring. The change is now aimed at addressing concerns around shared responsibility and communion within the church hierarchy.

The Vatican's governance structure is complex, with multiple departments responsible for various tasks such as managing revenue sources, infrastructure, telecommunications, and healthcare. Petrini's office plays a key role in these areas, while also overseeing law-making processes and budgets.

The move comes after 12 years of Pope Francis' efforts to increase women's representation within the Vatican. While no significant changes have been made regarding priestly ordination for women, Petrini's appointment marks an important step forward in elevating women to top decision-making roles.

I think it's dope that the Vatican is finally acknowledging the importance of women in leadership positions . I mean, having a woman as president of the city-state is a game-changer for the Catholic Church and its people. It shows they're willing to adapt and evolve with the times . Sister Raffaella Petrini's appointment was a bold move, and it's great that Pope Leo XIV is backing her up by updating the law . I'm all about seeing more women in positions of power and making sure everyone has a voice in the decision-making process . It's not just about equality, it's about creating a more diverse and inclusive community .

the fact that they finally changed the law is a big deal ... i mean, 12 years of pope francis trying to get this done and it just took them months to make the change ... but hey, at least now sister raffaella petrini has her spot ‍‍‍... it's all about taking small steps in the right direction, right?

I'm loving this progress! The Vatican is finally catching up with the times . It's amazing how a simple change like allowing a woman to head its administration can spark such a positive reaction. I mean, it's not just about Sister Raffaella Petrini, it's about breaking down barriers for women everywhere. And let's be real, if the Vatican is doing this, who knows what other great things are gonna happen? The Pope is really paving the way for some amazing changes and I am HERE. FOR. IT

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." The fact that a woman is now being allowed to head the administration of the Vatican City State after months of Sister Raffaella Petrini's appointment shows progress, but it's still just a small step forward. We need to see more changes, especially when it comes to priestly ordination for women. But hey, every bit counts and this is definitely something to be celebrated

I'm like super curious about this update ... So the Vatican had to change a law because Sister Raffaella Petrini wasn't invited to those pre-conclave meetings and it caused some issues? Like, how did that even happen? And what exactly does she do in her role as president? Is she like, totally in charge of everything or is there still someone above her?

And I'm also thinking, why 12 years later did they finally make this change? Were there a lot of complaints from women who wanted to be involved in the Vatican's decision-making process? And how does this new law affect other women who want to work for the church? Can they apply now or is it still a pretty male-dominated field?

I'm also wondering, what's next? Will more women get appointed to top positions in the Vatican? And will Pope Francis' efforts actually lead to some bigger changes in the future?

I'm glad to see progress in the Vatican . It's a big deal that they're updating their laws to make room for a woman in charge . I mean, it's still not 100% inclusive, but every little step counts, right? The thing is, we've been hearing about Pope Francis wanting to shake things up for years now , so it's nice to see some actual change happen. The fact that Sister Raffaella Petrini was overlooked during the pre-conclave meetings though... that's a bit concerning . Still, I'm optimistic that this is just the beginning of a bigger shift in the Vatican's approach to women's roles . We'll have to see how it all plays out

The Vatican just got a little more... inclusive . I think this is a big deal because it shows that the church is finally adapting to the times. It's about time we saw some changes, especially with Pope Francis trying to increase women's representation for years now .

I mean, imagine having a woman as the president of the Vatican City State - it's like a game-changer for representation and equality. And I love how they're focusing on shared responsibility and communion within the church hierarchy . It's all about working together and making sure everyone has a voice.

But what really caught my attention is that this change came after Sister Raffaella Petrini was not invited to deliver her annual economic report at cardinals' meetings . That might seem like a small thing, but it highlights the importance of listening to women's perspectives and giving them equal opportunities. The Vatican's governance structure can be pretty complex, but it's about time they simplified things .

I mean, can you imagine if the Vatican had a 'no girls allowed' rule? Just kidding, kinda... but seriously, it's about time they updated that law . Sister Raffaella Petrini is like the ultimate power woman in the Vatican – she's got the president gig and she's crushing it ! I guess you could say it's a step up for women's representation, which is always a good thing... especially if they're not getting the papal title (sorry, had to ). On a more serious note, it's cool that Pope Francis has been pushing for change, and now the Vatican's governance structure is more inclusive . Maybe this is the start of something big!

I'm loving how the Catholic Church is finally catching up with itself . I mean, 12 years of Pope Francis trying to shake things up and now they're adding a woman to lead their admin? It's about time! Sister Raffaella Petrini's got this and it's awesome to see her making waves in such an historic way . And let's be real, the tech glitch was just the excuse they needed to make some changes. It's all about having more women in power and it's about time we saw a shift like this .

I THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE VATICAN AND FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE!!! IT TAKES BRAVE LEADERSHIP TO UPDATE A LAW THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG, ESPECIALLY AFTER SUCH A LANDMARK APPOINTMENT LAST YEAR . I MEAN, SISTER RAFFAELLA PETRINI IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD THE VATICAN ADMINISTRATION AND IT'S TIME FOR THE CHURCH TO STEP UP ITS GAME IN TERMS OF GENDER EQUITY . IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS, BUT MORE ABOUT CREATING A MORE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHERE EVERYONE CAN CONTRIBUTE AND SHINE

The Vatican taking a step towards equality is a major win ! I'm glad they're finally updating the law to reflect Sister Raffaella Petrini's role as president, it shows they're listening and trying to be more inclusive . 12 years of Pope Francis' efforts have paid off and it's awesome to see progress . However, we should also keep pushing for more change, especially when it comes to priestly ordination for women . The Vatican still has a long way to go before they're fully representative of the world we live in .