Vatican City, Jul 13, 2022 / 04:48 am (CNA).
Pope Francis on Wednesday named three women to the Dicastery of Bishops, the Vatican office responsible for evaluating new members of the Catholic Church’s hierarchy.
The two religious sisters and one consecrated virgin are the first women to ever be named members of the 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.
Pope Francis also named four current cardinals, four cardinals-elect, and two archbishops to the dicastery July 13.
Benedictine Abbot Donato Ogliari, recently named abbot of Saint Paul Outside the Walls after eight years leading the abbey of Montecassino, was also appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops.
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.
If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
Wishing Sister Raffaella Petrini, Sister Yvonne Reungoat, and Maria Lia Zervino divine blessings.
Amen to that.
The pontificate of Francis is over. Few, if any, listen to him. The Catholic Church continues without him because we are Christ’s and the Church is led by the Holy Spirit.
Few, if any, listen to him.
Enjoy your own fibs.
Bergoglio has utterly destroyed his own credibility.
His pontificating about things he knows nothing about — e.g., global warming — his “pachymama” fiasco, his advancement of Cupich, Martin and others who support the gay lifestyle, how he excoriates those who wish to praise and worship the Lord through the centuries-old Latin liturgy while at the same time posturing self-righteously about dialogue and synodality — it all takes a toll.
Sorry, Mal. There’s no getting around it. I think you are one of the aforesaid “few.”
Pontiff Francis is an expert about everything save what he ought to be an expert about: being a unifying force in the Church, pastoring the people of God in charity, the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Matrimony, the natural human order, etc. I have a sense that at the time of judgment, Christ won’t be inquiring of him, “How’d ya make out with all that global warming stuff?”
Just demonstrate how Joe Average Catholic pays any attention whatsoever to anything this guy says or writes. Ain’t on anybody radar screen except the sycophants.
If anyone knows about fibs and agitprop, it’s certainly you. Amen to that.
Amen to that.
I find it disappointing that two are religious women and one a consecrated virgin, none are lay women. Similarly one has to ask why lay men are excluded from the mix. There is something very wrong with the decision and the choices.