Pope Leo XIV appoints Giacomo Costa and Elena Massimi as Synod subsecretaries

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Giacomo Costa, a Jesuit priest, and Sister Elena Massimi, a Salesian nun, as the new subsecretaries of the General Secretariat of the Synod. The announcement was made on October 30, 2026.

Father Giacomo Costa, 59, previously served as a consultant for the General Secretariat of the Synod and held roles during the pontificate of Pope Francis, including serving as special secretary for the 2018 Synod of Youth. His appointment is viewed as a sign of institutional continuity regarding synodal processes.

Sister Elena Massimi, 51, joins Costa in this leadership role. The appointments represent a continuation of the synodal orientations established under the previous papacy.