Photo: Pierpaolo Scavuzzo/Vatican Pool/Corbis/Getty Images
Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini to become the first woman to serve in the No. 2 position in the governorship of Vatican City.
Why it matters: The appointment makes Petrini, a 52-year-old Italian nun, the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state, per Reuters.
The big picture: Petrini's appointment is the latest attempt from Francis to improve gender balance, a promise the Pope made years ago.
- In February, Francis appointed 52-year-old French Sister Nathalie Becquart as an undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops.
- Petrini will serve as the secretary-general of the Governorate of the State of Vatican City. The Governorate oversees more than 2,000 employees, per Reuters.