President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the appointment of a woman, nun Raffaella Petrini, as "governor" of the Vatican by Pope Francis, highlighting her progressive stance and her push for female inclusion in the Catholic Church. During her morning conference, Sheinbaum described the pope as a humanist and progressive, considering Petrini's appointment a significant step.
Nun Raffaella Petrini, 56, will assume the presidency of the Governorship of the Vatican City State starting March 1, succeeding Spanish Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga. Petrini has been Vérgez's right hand for years and was also appointed as president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.
Sheinbaum, the first female president of Mexico, celebrated the participation of women in leadership roles like Petrini's in the Vatican. She recalled her meeting with the pope in February 2024, before her electoral campaign, where they discussed the importance of female participation in politics.
"I mentioned to him that for the first time Mexico could have a woman president and he told me that the participation of women was very important," Sheinbaum noted, reinforcing her motto of "it's time for women."
