The president of the Pontifical Commission also serves as the Vatican City State's
de facto head of government, as the
president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, an office that is distinct from the former title of
governor of Vatican City. In addition to their legislative role, the president is delegated
executive authority for Vatican City by the Pope.
Raffaella Petrini is the first woman to hold the position. Article 8 n. 1, of the Fundamental Law, promulgated in 2023, previously stated: “The Pontifical Commission is composed of Cardinals, including the President, and of other members, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.” But in 2025,
Pope Leo XIV replaced this with, “The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is composed of Cardinals and other members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term”, thus allowing people who are not cardinals to be president. When the papacy is vacant, the term of the president ends, as do most other offices in the Curia, and the person occupying the position becomes a member of the Commission that handles some of the functions of
head of state until a new pope is chosen, along with the
Cardinal Secretary of State and the
Cardinal Camerlengo.
List == See also ==