He is appointing Sister Simona Brambilla, an Italian nun, to become prefect of the Vatican department responsible for all the church's religious orders.

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.

Sister Simona Brambilla, 60, of Italy will be prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

In a historic move, Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, 59, as the first woman to head a major Vatican dicastery. The Italian nun will take the helm of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, which oversees the world's Catholic religious orders.

Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to lead a major Vatican department, appointing an Italian sister to take charge of the office that oversees the world's Catholic religious orders.

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, until now Secretary of the same institution, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Vatican Press Office said Monday.

Pope Francis on Monday named Sister Simona Brambilla the first female prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.