Raffaella Petrini
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:04:34 PM Wikipedia source
Raffaella Petrini (born 15 January 1969) is an Italian Catholic religious sister who has served as president of the Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State since March 2025. She was Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State from 2021 to 2025. She is the first woman to hold those positions, two of the highest-ranking in the government. She is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.
Infobox
Preceded by
Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
Succeeded by
Archbishop Emilio Nappa [it] & Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi [it]
Born
(1969-01-15) 15 January 1969 (age 56)Rome, Italy
Education
mw- Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali University of Hartford Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Known for
Professor at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Religion
Catholic
Institute
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE)
Predecessor
Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
Tables
· References
Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga
Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga
Catholic Church titles
Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga
Catholic Church titles
Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State 4 November 2021 – 1 March 2025
Catholic Church titles
Succeeded byEmilio NappaGiuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi
Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga
Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga
Catholic Church titles
Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga
Catholic Church titles
President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State 1 March 2025 – present
Catholic Church titles
Incumbent
| Catholic Church titles | ||
| Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga | Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State 4 November 2021 – 1 March 2025 | Succeeded byEmilio NappaGiuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi |
| Preceded byFernando Vérgez Alzaga | President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State 1 March 2025 – present | Incumbent |
References
- Because the statutes governing her positions did not allow for the appointment of a non-cardinal, Pope Francis gave her
- Faro di Romahttps://www.farodiroma.it/per-la-prima-volta-un-laico-il-giurista-puglisi-alibrandi-nominato-segretario-generale-del-governatorato-stesso-incarico-anche-a-mons-nappa/
- Vatican Newshttps://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/sr-raffaella-petrini-appointed-secretary-general-of-governorate.html
- la Repubblicahttps://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2021/11/04/news/suor_raffaella_petrini_donne_vaticano-325084928/
- El Paíshttps://elpais.com/internacional/2021-11-04/el-papa-nombra-a-una-mujer-como-numero-dos-del-gobierno-del-vaticano.html
- University of Hartfordhttps://www.hartford.edu/news/press-releases/2021/11/ns-barney-raffaella-petrini-01.aspx
- Angelicumhttps://angelicum.it/alumni-spotlight/sister-raffaella-petrini/
- The Pillarhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/who-are-the-women-appointed-to-the
- "Rinunce e nomine, 04.11.2021"https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/11/04/0720/01529.html
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-pope-give-women-say-appointment-bishops-2022-07-06/
- National Catholic Reporterhttps://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/news/news/pope-francis-names-three-women-vatican-office-recommends-new-bishops
- Holy See Press Officehttps://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/07/13/0533/01074.html
- Vatican Newshttps://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-01/pope-francis-interview-fazio-woman-governatorate-head.html
- "Rinunce e nomine, 15.02.2025"https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/02/15/0137/00291.html
- Americahttps://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/02/15/woman-governor-vatican-city-249941
- "Lettera Apostolica in forma di «Motu Proprio» del Sommo Pontefice Leone XIV sulla Composizione e Presidenza della Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Città del Vaticano, 21.11.2025"https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/11/21/0888/01591.html
- The Pillarhttps://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/who-stays-in-the-roman-curia
- "Pope Leo XIV leaves members of the Curia in office for the time being"https://english.katholisch.de/artikel/61519-pope-leo-xiv-leaves-members-of-the-curia-in-office-for-the-time-being