Raffaella Petrini

Raffaella Petrini was born in Rome on 15 January 1969,^[2] and graduated with a degree in political science from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali in Rome.^[3][4] 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.^[5][6][7] She entered the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in 2008, earning a licentiate 2011 and a doctorate in 2014.^[6] She was later appointed professor there and taught courses in welfare economics and the sociology of economic processes.^[3][4]

From 2005 to 2021, Petrini worked on the staff of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.^[3] On 4 November 2021, Pope Francis appointed her secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State,^[8] the first woman to hold that position.^[3] He later noted that she was the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state.^[9] 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.^[10][11]

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.^[12][13] She was the first woman to occupy these positions.^[14][a]

Her authority was automatically suspended along with that of most Curial appointments upon the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025.^[16] His successor Pope Leo XIV confirmed her role on 9 May, the day after he took office.^[17] 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.^[18][19]