Before his death, Francis made further appointments demonstrating his commitment to integrating women into Church governance. In January 2025, he appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. She is the first woman to lead a major Vatican department.

Pope Francis transformed women's roles in the Catholic Church without changing doctrine. His legacy: creating pathways for female leadership while maintaining tradition.