Claims nun appointed to Curia by Pope Leo strengthens fight against sexual abuse and use of power

Sister Merletti, secretary of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life: Leo XIV strengthens the fight against sexual abuse and abuse of power

The appointment of the nun, 59, places Prevost in continuity with his predecessor's choice to call female figures to the top of the Roman Curia. The Dicastery, in fact, is already led by Sister Simona Brambilla, appointed by Francis. Here are the implications of this decision

Leo XIV has appointed a nun, Sister Tiziana Merletti, 59, as secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. A female appointment in a Dicastery already led by a woman, Sister Simona Brambilla, who was herself secretary of the curial body from October 2023 to January 2025. The Dicastery is pro-prefect Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime.

More on her background here - also cites the poor governance record of two sisters appointed to high office. 

The appointment of Sister Merletti confirms the choices made by Pope Francis to call female figures to the top of the Roman Curia; Robert Francis Prevost, has, in this way, given a sign of continuity with respect to the changes introduced by Bergoglio. It must be said, moreover, that the choice of Sister Tiziana Merletti is not without significant implications.

"Sexual abuse is abuse of power"

The nun, in fact, is a canonist who, in recent years, has collaborated with the UISG (International Union of Superiors General), in the field of the fight against sexual abuse. Graduated in law at the then Libera Università Abruzzese degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio" in Teramo, in 1992, she obtained a doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

From 2004 to 2013 she was superior general of her religious institute. She is currently a professor at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical Antonianum University in Rome. Her contribution to developing an adequate response to the scandal of sexual abuse in religious congregations was important. In 2021, she wrote among other things about the phenomenon of abuse: «When we talk about sexual abuse, we are fundamentally not talking about sexual impulses, satisfied against the will of another person. Rather, we are dealing with abuses of power, which are expressed in privileges, arrogance, domination over people, control and manipulation of consciences, deprivation of freedom, distortion of reality. And to address these wounds, recovery programs are not enough, although necessary and never sufficient for those who have "fallen", more global and radical actions are needed to change the mentality of the "untouchable above suspicion"».

Relevant, then, on the same topic, the speech she made during the plenary of the UISG, in May 2022, presenting the work of the commission for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults; on that occasion he stated: "In general, we are witnessing an expansion of the problems that emerge through reports of sexual abuse, and this leads us to say that they are really only the tip of the iceberg. Very often, in fact, sexual abuse is associated with other types of fragility of our "ecclesial system", (therefore not only within us), or worse associated with sick processes, which are based on attitudes today called by name: abuse of power and conscience".

Then a little further on, broadening her gaze to the formative problem within religious life, he observed: "As we develop new strategies, we are discovering that we still need to re-establish the initial pact of a life based on “us”, on mutual service, on respect for the rules that we have embraced. Yes, because it is also about rules, and how can we deny it when we listen to the sufferings of superiors who find themselves in the situation of having to chase sisters who disappear, who create their own kingdoms, who lead double lives, who feed their own bank accounts, who aspire to positions of power for prestige or personal interests? Formation is a weak link in the picture that we have before us".

The "Sodalicio de vida cristiana" case

The organization was recently suppressed by Pope Francis and the final act of this affair was signed, on the Vatican side, by Sister Simona Brambilla, appointed last January by Pope Francis to head the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life.

"At the conclusion of an investigation ordered by the Holy Father Francis on 5 July 2023, in order to ascertain the validity of accusations regarding responsibilities of various kinds - we read in a press release from the dicastery dated 15 April signed by the perfect Sister Brambilla - attributed to Mr. Luis Fernando Figari and numerous other members of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, it was decided to suppress both the Societies of Apostolic Life of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae and the Fraternidad Mariana de la Reconciliacion, as well as the Associations of the Faithful of the Siervas del Pian de Dios and the Movimiento de Vida Cristiana. The respective decrees of suppression, issued by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and confirmed in specific form by the Holy Father, were recently notified".

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