Salesian Sister appointed as secretary of Vatican Dicastery

Sister Alessandra Smerilli

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis has appointed Sr Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, as the interim Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and as a delegate of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission.

Italian Sister Alessandra Smerilli replaces Mgr Bruno Marie Duffé and Fr Augusto Zampini, respectively Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the same Dicastery, who have returned to their dioceses in France and Argentina.

Sister Alessandra has served as an Undersecretary at the Dicastery since March 2021.

According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis has "ordered that management team of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission be composed" of Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, and Father Fabio Baggio, Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section.

Born in the Italian town of Vasto (Chieti) in 1974, Sister Smerilli has been the Undersecretary of the Dicastery since March 2021, as well as coordinator of the Economic Taskforce of the Vatican Commission Covid-19.

Sister Alessandra said: "I am grateful to the Holy Father for the challenging task he has called me to take on, and I pray the Lord will help me honor this call in a spirit of obedience to the Church, with the humility, passion, creativity and ability to listen that it requires. My desire and commitment are to be able to serve the mission of the Church to the best of my ability, for as long as the Pope sees fit."

After thanking her superiors, she said she was certain she could "count on the spirit of communion and collaboration of the entire Dicastery, as well as the many international partners who collaborate with the Covid Commission, for the integral promotion of the person and the care of creation by promoting and developing those principles of the Church's social doctrine to which Pope Francis constantly calls us for the construction of a better world."

A statement from Argentinian Father Augusto Zampini was also posted on the Dicastery's website.

"I am grateful to the Holy Father for entrusting me with the challenging task of coordinating the Vatican Covid-19 Commission and serving as the Dicastery's assistant secretary. Now that the Commission is ready to enter a new phase, and in communion with my bishop, I have asked Pope Francis for permission to return to my Diocese. I am confident that under the leadership of Sister Alessandra Smerilli the Commission will be able to continue the healing journey to help both people and the planet out of this difficult situation."