{{Short description|Italian Vatican official (born 1969)}} {{use dmy|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox religious biography | honorific-prefix = | name = Raffaella Petrini | honorific-suffix = [[Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist|FSE]] | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Sister Raffaella-Petrini.jpg | alt = | caption = Sister Raffaella in 2025 | image_upright = | religion = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | denomination = | school = | lineage = | sect = | subsect = | temple = | order = | institute = [[Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist]] (FSE) | church = <!-- or: |churches = --> | founder = | philosophy = | known_for = Professor at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas | education = {{indented plainlist| *[[LUISS|Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali]] *[[University of Hartford]] *[[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]] }} | alma_mater = | other_names = <!-- or: | other_name = --> | monastic_name = | pen_name = | posthumous_name = | nationality = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|01|15|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Rome]], Italy | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|latitude|longitude|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} --> | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | mother = | father = | location = | title = | period = | consecration = | predecessor = <!-- [[Fernando Vérgez Alzaga]] not needed, he is listed as predecessor for her two significant offices --> | successor = | reason = | rank = | teacher = <!-- or | guru = --> | reincarnation_of = | students = <!-- or | disciples = --> | initiated = | works = <!-- or | literary_works = --> | ordination = | initiation = | initiation_date = | initiation_place = | initiator = | profession = | office1 = President of the [[Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State]] & [[Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State#President|President of the Governorate]] of Vatican City State | term_start1 = 1 March 2025 | predecessor1 = Cardinal [[Fernando Vérgez Alzaga]] | office2 = Secretary General of the [[Governorate of Vatican City State]] | term_start2 = 4 November 2021 | term_end2 = 1 March 2025 | predecessor2 = Bishop [[Fernando Vérgez Alzaga]] | successor2 = Archbishop {{ill|Emilio Nappa|it}} & {{ill|Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi|it}}<ref name=faro>{{Cite news|url=https://www.farodiroma.it/per-la-prima-volta-un-laico-il-giurista-puglisi-alibrandi-nominato-segretario-generale-del-governatorato-stesso-incarico-anche-a-mons-nappa/|work = Faro di Roma |title=Per la prima volta un laico, il giurista Puglisi Alibrandi, nominato segretario generale del Governatorato. Stesso incarico anche a mons. Nappa|date=25 February 2025|language=it|access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref> | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | signature = }} '''Raffaella Petrini''' {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist|FSE]]}} (born 15 January 1969) is an [[Italian Catholic]] religious sister who has served as president of the [[Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State#President|Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State]] since March 2025. She was previously the commission's secretary general 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]].
==Biography== Raffaella Petrini was born in Rome on 15 January 1969,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/sr-raffaella-petrini-appointed-secretary-general-of-governorate.html|work=[[Vatican News]]|title=Sr Raffaella Petrini appointed Secretary General of Vatican Governorate|date=4 November 2021|access-date=23 January 2025|archive-date=23 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323024755/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/sr-raffaella-petrini-appointed-secretary-general-of-governorate.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and graduated with a degree in political science from the [[Luiss University|Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali]] in Rome.<ref name=repubblica/><ref name=pais/> She then studied at the Barney School of Business at the [[University of Hartford]] in Connecticut, receiving a master's degree in organizational behavior in 2001.<ref>{{cite web | access-date = 1 March 2025 | url = https://www.hartford.edu/news/press-releases/2021/11/ns-barney-raffaella-petrini-01.aspx | date = 17 November 2021 | title = UHart Graduate Appointed First Female Secretary-General of Vatican City State | website = University of Hartford | archive-date = 4 March 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250304090628/https://www.hartford.edu/news/press-releases/2021/11/ns-barney-raffaella-petrini-01.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=angelicum/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coppen |first=Luke |date=13 July 2022 |title=Who are the women appointed to the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops? |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/who-are-the-women-appointed-to-the |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=The Pillar |archive-date=4 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304090635/https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/who-are-the-women-appointed-to-the |url-status=live }}</ref> She entered the [[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]] in 2008, earning a licentiate 2011 and a doctorate in 2014.<ref name=angelicum>{{cite web | access-date = 1 March 2025 | url = https://angelicum.it/alumni-spotlight/sister-raffaella-petrini/ | website = Angelicum | title = Alumni: Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E. }}</ref> She was later appointed professor there and taught courses in welfare economics and the sociology of economic processes.<ref name="repubblica">{{Cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2021/11/04/news/suor_raffaella_petrini_donne_vaticano-325084928/|work=[[la Repubblica]]|title=Vaticano, per la prima volta una suora nominata segretario del Governatorato|date=4 November 2021|first=Paolo|last= Rodari | access-date = 23 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="pais">{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2021-11-04/el-papa-nombra-a-una-mujer-como-numero-dos-del-gobierno-del-vaticano.html|work=[[El País]]|title=El Papa nombra a una mujer como 'número dos' del Gobierno del Vaticano|date=4 November 2021|first=Daniel|last=Verdú | access-date = 23 January 2025}}</ref> From 2005 to 2021, Petrini worked on the staff of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]].<ref name=repubblica /> On 4 November 2021, [[Pope Francis]] appointed her secretary general of the [[Governorate of Vatican City State]],<ref>{{cite press release| access-date = 5 November 2021| publisher = Holy See Press Office| date = 4 November 2021| url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/11/04/0720/01529.html| title = Rinunce e nomine, 04.11.2021| archive-date = 4 November 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211104173234/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/11/04/0720/01529.html| url-status = live}}</ref> the first woman to hold that position.<ref name="repubblica" /> He later noted that she was the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state.<ref>{{cite news | work=Reuters | title=Exclusive: Pope to give women a say in appointment of bishops | date=6 July 2022 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-pope-give-women-say-appointment-bishops-2022-07-06/ | access-date=16 July 2022 | archive-date=6 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606100131/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-pope-give-women-say-appointment-bishops-2022-07-06/ | url-status=live }}</ref> On 13 July 2022, Pope Francis appointed women as members of the [[Dicastery for Bishops]] for the first time, including Petrini, [[Yvonne Reungoat]], and [[María Lía Zervino]].<ref>{{cite news | access-date = 15 July 2022 | work = National Catholic Reporter | date = 13 July 2022 | url = https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/news/news/pope-francis-names-three-women-vatican-office-recommends-new-bishops | title = Pope Francis names three women to Vatican office that recommends new bishops | first = Christopher | last = White }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |date=13 July 2022 |title=Rinunce e nomine, 13.07.2022 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/07/13/0533/01074.html |access-date=14 July 2022 |website=Holy See Press Office |archive-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812185354/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/07/13/0533/01074.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 15 February 2025, Pope Francis named Petrini president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, effective 1 March.<ref>{{cite news |work=Vatican News |title=Pope Francis: A woman will head the Vatican Governatorate |date=19 January 2025 |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-01/pope-francis-interview-fazio-woman-governatorate-head.html |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | publisher=Holy See Press Office | access-date = 15 February 2025 | date= 15 February 2025 | language = it | title = Rinunce e nomine, 15.02.2025 | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/02/15/0137/00291.html }}</ref> She was the first woman to occupy these positions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/02/15/woman-governor-vatican-city-249941 |title=Pope Francis appoints an Italian nun as the first woman governor of Vatican City |date=15 February 2025 |first=Girard |last=O'Connell |work=[[America (magazine)|America]] |access-date=15 February 2025}}</ref>{{efn|Because the statutes governing her positions did not allow for the appointment of a non-cardinal, Pope Francis gave her explicit authority over the two men named on 25 February, effective 1 March, to succeed her as secretaries general of the Governorate of Vatican City State,<ref name=faro/> and on 21 November [[Pope Leo XIV]] modified the statutes of the Pontifical Commission to allow for the appointment of non-cardinals.<ref>{{cite press release| access-date=21 November 2025 | date= 21 November 2025| publisher= Holy See Press Office| url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/11/21/0888/01591.html| language =it | title=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}}</ref>}}
Her authority was automatically suspended along with that of most Curial appointments upon the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beltrán |first=Edgar |title=Who stays in the Roman curia? |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/who-stays-in-the-roman-curia |access-date=30 April 2025 |website=The Pillar |language=en}}</ref> His successor [[Pope Leo XIV]] confirmed her role on 9 May, the day after he took office.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 2025 |title=Pope Leo XIV leaves members of the Curia in office for the time being|url= https://english.katholisch.de/artikel/61519-pope-leo-xiv-leaves-members-of-the-curia-in-office-for-the-time-being | access-date=24 November 2025| publisher= Katholisch.de}}</ref> Article 8 n. 1, of the Fundamental Law, promulgated in 2023, previously stated: “The Pontifical Commission is composed of Cardinals, including the President, and of other members, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.” But in 2025, Pope Leo XIV replaced this with, “The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is composed of Cardinals and other members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term”, thus allowing people who are not Cardinals, including women, to be President.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-11/pope-leo-xiv-motu-proprio-presidency-vatican-city-commission.html|title=Pope Leo consolidates governance reform for Vatican City Commission - Vatican News|date=21 November 2025|website=www.vaticannews.va}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsistersreport.org/qas/qa-stephanie-ann-puen-theologian-and-coordinator-ecclesia-women-asia|title=Q&A with Stephanie Ann Puen, theologian and coordinator of Ecclesia of Women in Asia|first=Joyce|last=Meyer|website=Global Sisters Report}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Fernando Vérgez Alzaga]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governorate of Vatican City State|Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State]]|years=4 November 2021 – 1 March 2025}} {{s-aft|after=Emilio Nappa|after2=Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi}} {{s-bef|before=[[Fernando Vérgez Alzaga]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governorate of Vatican City State|President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State]]|years=1 March 2025 – present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= Italy}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Petrini, Raffaella}} [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Italian Roman Catholic religious sisters and nuns]] [[Category:Female heads of government]] [[Category:Franciscan nuns]] [[Category:Women officials of the Roman Curia]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] [[Category:Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas alumni]] [[Category:Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli alumni]] [[Category:Academic staff of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]] [[Category:Presidents of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State]]