Appointment of First Female Prefect for Vatican Dicastery a Plus towards Dignity for All: Mozambican Nun

“Access to service should not be limited by being male or female. It is about a call, a vocation, a ministry,” Sr. Lucas said. 

She continued, “The aim is to enable participation according to each person’s God-given gifts, following the example of what the Holy Father is doing.”

“For us women, it is a great joy, a historic step, and a source of hope,” she added.

Pope Francis’ appointment of Sr. Brambilla on January 6 is part of a series of historic moves to place women in key Vatican leadership positions. 

For Sr. Lucas, these reforms are significant primarily because they advance the mission of evangelization.

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“The most important thing is not whether a woman holds the title of Prefect, but that these decisions enhance the visibility of the Gospel message for all,” she said.

She further explained, “If the message of salvation brought by Christ is to be heard in today’s society, we must avoid practices that hinder evangelization and adopt those that facilitate it. I believe this is what guides the Holy Father. He offers a different approach without contradicting Church doctrine.”

Reflecting on Sr. Brambilla’s qualifications, Sr. Lucas said, “Her experience as Superior General of her congregation, the Missionary Sisters of Consolata, gave her a global perspective. The Consolata Sisters are present worldwide, allowing her to engage with diverse cultural contexts and various expressions of consecrated life.”

Sr. Lucas highlighted the advantage of Sister Simona’s missionary background, particularly her experience in Mozambique. “Having lived and worked in a mission land like Mozambique is invaluable. It offers a deeper understanding of the challenges we face daily as religious women,” she said.

She further elaborated on the importance of this leadership for young churches, emphasizing better dialogue and collaboration with congregations familiar with Africa’s unique contexts. 

“It brings us great joy and hopeful anticipation for more effective engagement,” Sr. Lucas said.

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.