Pope Leo XIV appoints Sister Mary Teresa Barron to senior Vatican role

Vatican appointment Mary Teresa Barron Dicastery for Evangelization Pontifical Mission Societies Roman Curia

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Mary Teresa Barron as the Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, specifically within the Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches. She will also serve as the President of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The appointment is set to take effect on January 4, 2027.

Sister Barron, a native of Donegal, Ireland, is currently the Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles. Her professional background includes master’s degrees in Public Healthcare Administration and International Development. She has previously held leadership roles such as President of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and President of the Service of Documentation and Study on Global Mission (SEDOS).

This appointment marks a significant milestone as Sister Barron is the first woman to be entrusted with this specific responsibility. The move is seen as a continuation of the trend to integrate more women into high-level administrative and leadership roles within the Roman Curia, a process initiated during the pontificate of Pope Francis.