Pope Francis on Wednesday named the first woman to hold a high-ranking post in the Secretariat of State.
The position is located in the male-dominated Vatican’s diplomatic and administrative nerve center.
66-year-old Italian laywoman Francesca Di Giovanni will assume a newly-created post.
Her role as "under-secretary" will be located in the Section for Relations with States.
Her role will be to perform as one of two deputy foreign ministers.
The Roman Catholic Church allows only men to be ordained as priests.
Women have traditionally been consigned to the shadows of its administration.