Raffaella Petrini

Raffaella Petrini FSE (born 15 January 1969) is an Italian Catholic religious sister who has served as president of the Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State since March 2025. She was Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State 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.

Her Excellency Sister Raffaella Petrini FSE
President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State & President of the Governorate of Vatican City State
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 March 2025
Preceded by	Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State
In office 4 November 2021 – 1 March 2025
Preceded by	Bishop Fernando Vérgez Alzaga
Succeeded by	Archbishop Emilio Nappa [it] & Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi [it]
Personal life
Born	(1969-01-15) 15 January 1969 (age 56) Rome, Italy
Education	Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas University of Hartford
Known for	Professor at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Religious life
Religion	Catholic
Institute	Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE)
Senior posting
Predecessor	Fernando Vérgez Alzaga

Biography

Raffaella Petrini was born in Rome on 15 January 1969,^[1] and graduated with a degree in political science from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) in Rome.^[2][3] She then studied at the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford (Connecticut), receiving a masters degree in organizational behavior in 2001.^[4][5][6] She entered the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 2008, earning a licentiate 2011 and a doctorate in 2014.^[5] She was later appointed professor there and taught courses in welfare economics and the sociology of economic processes.^[2][3]

From 2005 to 2021, Petrini worked on the staff of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.^[2] On 4 November 2021, Pope Francis appointed her secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State,^[7] the first woman to hold that position.^[2] He later noted that she was the highest-ranking woman in the world's smallest state.^[8] 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.^[9][10]

On 15 February 2025, Pope Francis named Petrini president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, effective on 1 March.^[11][12] She is the first woman to occupy this position.^[13] Her authority was suspended by law upon the death of Pope Francis in April 2025.^[14] His successor Pope Leo XIV confirmed her role on 9 May, the day after he took office.^[15]