Sr. Françoise Petit, Superioress General of the Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, has just been appointed as a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

Her appointment is being seen as a sign of trust and recognition of the Vincentian charism, known for its humble and missionary commitment to serving those most in need. In this new role, Sr. Françoise will be able to actively participate in the discernment and accompaniment of consecrated life around the world, bringing with her the wisdom born of service, community life, and faith lived with simplicity.

The Dicastery is one of the departments of the Roman Curia. It is the successor to the former Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, which was established in 1967 and formally renamed on March 19, 2022, by the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium.

Its responsibilities include:

• Authorizing and regulating the foundation, merger, reorganization, or suppression of religious orders and societies of apostolic life;
• Approving or amending their statutes; overseeing the formation and discipline of members; managing financial and temporal affairs.
• It also oversees non-traditional forms of consecrated life, such as hermits, consecrated virgins, secular institutes, and associations seeking official recognition by the Church.

The dicastery is structured into five specialized sections: formation and international initiatives; monastic life; ordinary governance and apostolate; discipline; and the approval of new institutes and secular forms, hermits, and consecrated virgins.

Since early 2025, the dicastery has been led by Sr. Simona Brambilla, the first woman to head a Vatican department, supported by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime as pro-prefect. In May, Sr. Tiziana Merletti was also appointed as secretary.

Highlights of Sr. Françoise’s Appointment

• Charismatic representation: Her presence strengthens the visibility of the Vincentian approach in discernment and institutional decision-making within the Church.
• Pastoral and operational dimension: She will be directly involved in decisions concerning formation, internal governance, apostolic mission, and the management of religious institutions.
• Strengthening women’s leadership: Her appointment reflects a growing trend within the Roman Curia to open leadership roles to female religious superiors, a shift that has accelerated since 2019.

This appointment reinforces the Vatican’s mission to promote consecrated life that is deeply rooted in service to the poor and in fidelity to its founding charisms. Sr. Françoise Petit’s background brings a valuable perspective shaped by compassionate leadership, showing that accompaniment and simplicity can illuminate decision-making within the global Church.