Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing an Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to become prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church's religious orders.

Pope Francis has named a nun to head a prominent office at the Vatican, the first time a woman has held that position and the latest example of the pontiff adding more women to leadership roles in the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as prefect of the Vatican department overseeing religious orders, marking the first time a woman ha