Raffaella Petrini (M Barney) has been appointed secretary-general of the Office Governing Vatican City State—making her the first female secretary-general of Vatican City State, the highest-ranking woman at the Vatican, and the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State. In this role, she will oversee a diverse range of departments such as the Vatican’s museums, post office, department of health, and police force. Petrini is making history taking on this pivotal leadership role in the largest office in the Vatican government.
Petrini earned her master’s degree from the University of Hartford in 2001. Prior to this role, Petrini served as a member of the General Council of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Meriden, Conn. Petrini is also a professor with a focus in the social sciences and health care.