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A graduate of the University of East Anglia has been appointed to one of the most senior leadership positions in the Vatican.
Sister Alessandra Smerilli has been named Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development by Pope Leo XIV, with her appointment taking effect on 1 September 2026. She succeeds Cardinal Michael Czerny and will lead the Vatican department responsible for promoting justice and peace, migration, healthcare, charity, care for creation and the protection of human dignity around the world.
Originally from Italy, Sister Alessandra completed a PhD in Economics at the University of East Anglia in Norwich in 2014 before going on to serve in a number of senior Vatican roles. She was the first woman appointed Secretary of a Vatican dicastery in 2021 and now becomes one of the highest-ranking women in the Roman Curia.
Her appointment is a source of pride for East Anglia, highlighting the global influence of UEA graduates and the important contribution they continue to make to the life and mission of the Church.
Image credit: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY-SA 2.0). Attribution: N Chadwick.
