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Pope Leo XIV appoints Sister Mary Teresa Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelization

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Mary Teresa Barron as the adjunct secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization and president of the Pontifical Mission Societies. She is scheduled to begin her new roles on January 4, 2027.

Sister Mary, a member of the Missionary Congregation of Our Lady of Apostles and the current Superior General of that congregation, is the first woman to head the Pontifical Mission Societies. In her dual role, she will also serve as adjunct secretary for the dicastery's Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches.

Sister Mary, who has been a missionary for 34 years, noted that her appointment focuses on animating a missionary spirit rather than academic theological qualifications. Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, chair of the National Mission Council of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, described the appointment as significant for the Church's missionary outreach. Bishop Niall Coll of Raphoe also welcomed the news, noting that Sister Mary is a native of County Donegal.

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 10:45 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  3. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  5. Oct 31, 10:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 9:55 AM PT · 12 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  8. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  9. Oct 31, 9:46 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm election
  10. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  11. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  12. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  13. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  14. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  15. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  16. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  17. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  18. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  20. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  22. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  23. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  24. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  25. Oct 31, 5:52 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV meets 7000 students

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More Catholic news

Earlier version, Friday 9 October

Pope Leo XIV appoints Sister Mary Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelization

Earlier version, Friday 9 October

Pope Leo XIV appoints Sister Mary Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelisation

Earlier version, Friday 9 October

Pope Leo XIV to appoint Sr. Mary Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelization

Earlier version, Friday 9 October

Pope Leo XIV appoints Sr Mary Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelisation

Earlier version, Friday 9 October

Pope Leo XIV names Sr. Mary Teresa Barron to lead Vatican's missionary efforts

Earlier version, Friday 9 October

Pope Leo XIV names Irish Sr. Mary Teresa Barron to lead Vatican's missionary efforts

Earlier version, Thursday 8 October

Pope Leo XIV appoints Sister Mary Teresa Barron to head Pontifical Missionary Works

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 8, 3:57 AM Vida Nueva Español León XIV nombra por primera vez a una mujer máxima responsable de todos los misioneros del mundo
  2. Oct 8, 6:50 AM Religión Digital Español Una mujer será la máxima responsable de los misioneros en el mundo
  3. Oct 8, 7:44 AM ZENIT News Agency Français Léon XIV confie les Œuvres missionnaires à Sœur Mary Teresa Barron
  4. Oct 8, 8:20 AM National Catholic Reporter Pope names Irish sister to lead Vatican's missionary efforts
  5. Oct 8, 8:20 AM Global Sisters Report Pope names Irish sister to lead Vatican's missionary efforts
  6. Oct 8, 12:10 PM CathNews Australia Pope names Irish sister to lead Vatican’s missionary efforts
  7. Oct 8, 4:14 AM Vatican News Čeština Sr. Mary Barron v čele Papežských misijních děl a ve vedení Dikateria pro evangelizaci
  8. Oct 9, 2:12 AM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Teil der langen irischen Missionsgeschichte / Irische Ordensfrau Barron wird Leiterin der Päpstlichen Missionswerke
  9. Oct 9, 5:47 AM Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Bishop Niall Coll congratulates Sr Mary Barron on her appointment by Pope Leo to senior Vatican missionary role
  10. Oct 9, 9:30 AM The Catholic Sun Irish sister brings front-line missionary perspective to Vatican curial role
  11. Oct 9, 10:31 AM OSV News Irish sister brings front-line missionary perspective to Vatican curial role
  12. Oct 8, 4:38 AM Vatican News Español Sor Mary Barron, secretaria adjunta del Dicasterio para la Evangelización
  13. Oct 8, 4:31 AM ACI Digital Português Papa nomeia freira que falou de ordenação de mulheres presidente das Obras Missionárias
  14. Oct 8, 8:15 AM ACI Prensa Español León XIV nombra a la Hna. Mary Teresa Barron nueva presidenta de las Obras Misionales Pontificias
  15. Oct 8, 1:18 PM InfoCatólica Español El Papa nombra a la hermana Mary Teresa Barron presidenta de las Obras Misionales Pontificias
  16. Oct 8, 2:09 AM Diocese of Hallam Pope appoints Sr. Barron as Adjunct Secretary of Dicastery for Evangelization
  17. Oct 9, 12:22 PM Catholic Review Irish sister brings front-line missionary perspective to Vatican curial role
  18. Oct 9, 5:15 AM Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly welcomes Pope Leo’s appointment of Sr Mary Barron to senior Vatican missionary role
  19. Oct 9, 5:55 AM Diocese of Raphoe Sr Mary T Barron, OLA

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 10:45 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  3. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  5. Oct 31, 10:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  6. Oct 31, 9:55 AM PT · 12 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  8. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  9. Oct 31, 9:46 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm election
  10. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  11. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  12. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  13. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  14. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  15. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  16. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  17. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  18. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  20. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  22. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  23. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  24. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  25. Oct 31, 5:52 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV meets 7000 students

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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