Raffaella Petrini is an Italian Franciscan nun and Roman Curia official, born in 15th January 1969.  She is also a doctor from the  Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. She was born and bought up in Rome. She received a degree in Political Science and graduated from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli in Rome.  After that she received a doctorate degree from Political University of Saint Thomas Aquinas and there she was later appointed as a professor of Welfare economics and sociology of economic processes. In the year 2001, she received a master degree in organizational behaviour from Barney school of business at the university of Hartford. She has been a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples since 2005.

Rafaella Petrini – Career

Raffaella Petrini named the first woman Vatican Head Governorate

She was the first woman to be appointed as the office of Secretary General of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State by the Pope Francis on 4th of November, 2021. Sister Raffaella has become the highest-ranking woman in the world’s smallest state by holding the number two position in the Vatican City. Later, on 13th July 2022 she became the member of the Dicastery for Bishops. Being the second ranking figure of the Vatican City, sister Raffaella helps to oversee administrative offices, police department, the post office and also the museums and many such responsibilities.  

Raffaella Petrini with the Pope

This post was earlier held by a Bishop, Fernando Vérgez Alzaga who is now in the occupation of presidency of the governorate, top post. Sister Raffaella is also a member of the  Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist which is based in Meriden, Connecticut. This community was found in 1973 and has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church as a pontifical order. In 2007, she took her perpetual vows and in 2017, became the member of the general council.

Life Story of Raffaella Petrini

This 52-year-old, Rome native has succeeded to be named as Archbishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, archbishop and president of the commission who is governing the Vatican City state. Pope Francis named many women who were nuns and sister Raffaella was one of them. This was a great honour for her. She received immense joy and respect. Sister Raffaella was a kind hearted woman and she did many good deeds for which she is now rewarded and given new responsibilities to look after. She has become the face of woman empowerment. She is an inspiration for many people. Her role as the second highest governate official of the Vatican City can also be considered equal to the position of being a state deputy governor or the mayor of a city.

Raffaella Petrini giving a speech

Also, this is the first time that a secretary general is appointed who is not a member of the clergy. This makes it noteworthy. The authority in Vatican departments have been mostly traditionally run by men but now a change can be seen which is very inspiring. Petrini also write a book in 2015 on palliative care, titled as “Health, Equity and Care Through the End of Life”.

Takeaway

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