The departure of an Argentinian priest in the Vatican causes noise in Francisco’s ranks

Pope Francis named Sister Alessandra Smerilli as new acting secretary of the Dicastery for the Integral Human Development Service and delegate of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission.

The woman will assume “in replacement of the Reverend Monsignor Bruno Marie Duffé and of the Reverend Augusto Zampini, respectively secretary and assistant secretary of the same dicastery, who returned to their dioceses, “Vatican sources said.

Sister Smerilli has been Undersecretary of the Dicastery since March 2021, as well as coordinator of the Economic Working Group of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission.

“My desire and my commitment are to be able to serve the mission of the Church to the best of my ability, as long as the Pope deems it appropriate,” said the nun.

As secretary, she replaces Monsignor Bruno-Marie Duffé, who left the ministry in July, and as delegate of the Working Group, he replaces Father Augusto Zampini, who is leaving the Dicastery and He returns to serve in his diocese of origin in Argentina.

The latter thanked “the Holy Father for entrusting me with the difficult task of coordinating the Vatican Covid-19 Commission and of serving as Assistant Secretary of the Dicastery. I hope that, under the leadership of Sister Alessandra Smerilli, the Commission can continue on the path of healing to help people and the planet come out of this difficult situation. “