The appointment marks a major step in Pope Francis' aim to give women more leadership roles in governing the church.

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla to lead a Vatican department, naming the first woman head of the office that oversees the world's Catholic religious orders and congregations.

Sister Simona Brambilla was appointed as the prefect of a Vatican office that oversees religious orders, but she may not be alone at the top.

Pope Francis has appointed the Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to head one of the Vatican's dicasteries, making her the first female prefect in the Catholic Church's history. The Vatican's press office reported on Monday that Brambilla has been selected to lead the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

An Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, will become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders.

Pope Francis has named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, tapping Sister Simona Brambilla to become prefect of the Vatican department responsible for all the world’s religious orders.

Pope Francis has marked another milestone in his pontificate by appointing, for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, a woman to head a Vatican dicastery. She is Italian nun Sister Simona Brambilla,

A woman is appointed Vatican prefect by Pope Francis for the first time.