Vatican City – Pope Leo confirmed thirty of thirty-one members appointed by Pope Francis to the Dicastery for Bishops last week, signaling a continuity in the selection process for future bishops despite expectations of a shift in direction. The sole exception was a religious sister who had reached the age of 81, exceeding the eligibility limit for modern appointments.
To fill the vacant position, Pope Leo nominated Sister Simona Brambilla, a move that reinforces the path established by his predecessor. Sister Brambilla was previously appointed by Pope Francis as the prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in October 2023, marking the first time a woman had led a Vatican dicastery.
Historically, leadership roles within the Roman Curia were reserved for bishops, reflecting their sacramental authority as successors to the Apostles and their role in governing the Church. The Second Vatican Council stipulated that heads of major Vatican congregations should be cardinals. This practice was altered in 2022 with the promulgation of Praedicate Evangelium, Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution reforming the Roman Curia.
Praedicate Evangelium distinguished between the sacramental powers of ordination and the powers of governance, asserting that governance could be exercised by individuals who are not ordained. While the document did not fully elaborate on this distinction, it opened the possibility for women and lay men to be appointed as prefects, particularly in offices not directly involved in the administration of sacraments.
The appointment of Sister Brambilla initially sparked debate within the Vatican, and some observers questioned whether Pope Leo would uphold the decision. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops prior to Pope Leo, addressed these concerns in an essay published by Vatican News. He described Pope Francis’ appointment as a “prophetic gesture” and offered his full support.
Cardinal Ouellet acknowledged that the appointment deviated from the traditional practice of entrusting authority to ordained ministers. However, he argued that the sacrament of Holy Orders does not represent the exclusive source of authority within the Church. He posited that Pope Francis recognized “the authority of the Holy Spirit at work beyond the link established between the ordained ministry and the government of the Church.”
The cardinal’s essay suggests a re-evaluation of the traditional understanding of authority, rooted in the belief that the Holy Spirit’s guidance is particularly conferred through episcopal ordination. He questioned whether the canonical approach adequately considers the broader workings of the Holy Spirit within the People of God, writing that it “seems to lack the means to discern the signs of the Spirit, his personal and communal motions, the particular charisms with which he endows the members of the Body of Christ.”
Cardinal Ouellet conceded that not all functions of Vatican governance require the authority conferred by sacramental ordination, citing examples such as human resource management, financial administration, and ecumenical dialogue. The question remains, however, of where professional competence ends and the guidance of the Holy Spirit begins, a question left unanswered by this recent series of appointments.
